{"id":2809,"date":"2021-05-10T13:00:01","date_gmt":"2021-05-10T18:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809"},"modified":"2026-07-13T05:16:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T10:16:34","slug":"the-five-most-common-ways-your-passwords-get-stolen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809","title":{"rendered":"The Five Most Common Ways Your Passwords Get Stolen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-85bp3-f856194ef33e7bc72ec0d3bf98278fce\">\n.flex_column.av-85bp3-f856194ef33e7bc72ec0d3bf98278fce{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-85bp3-f856194ef33e7bc72ec0d3bf98278fce av_one_full  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-k0pon615-114d01afa1a8988881100bbf49ddc8fc '  ><div class='avia_textblock' ><h1>The Five Most Common Ways Your Passwords Get Stolen<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-k0pop9td-bbcbe599b29853166e54fa81e9bef78a '  ><div class='avia_textblock' ><p>Password security is more important than ever. Despite the advancement of technology, password management practices still leave businesses and individuals vulnerable to cyber threats. In fact, many high-profile cybersecurity breaches trace back to stolen passwords. If you&#8217;re concerned about your organization\u2019s security and want to avoid becoming a victim of a cyberattack, it\u2019s crucial to understand how passwords are stolen. Here are the five most common ways hackers steal passwords\u2014and how you can protect yourself.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Phishing: The Wolf in Sheep\u2019s Clothing<\/h3>\n<p>Phishing is one of the most common and dangerous ways hackers steal passwords. This attack method involves tricking users into providing their login credentials by masquerading as a trusted entity\u2014such as your bank, an email provider, or a colleague. Once the user enters their information into a fake login form, the hacker gains access to sensitive data.<\/p>\n<h4>How to Protect Yourself<\/h4>\n<p>Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all accounts to add an extra layer of security. Also, be cautious of unsolicited emails or messages from unknown sources. Phishing emails often contain misspelled words, odd formatting, or unusual sender addresses\u2014keep an eye out for these red flags.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Credential Stuffing: Reused Passwords Expose You<\/h3>\n<p>Credential stuffing, or breach replay, is when hackers use lists of stolen usernames and passwords and test them across multiple websites. Since many people reuse passwords across several accounts, this tactic is highly effective. Once hackers gain access to one account, they can exploit others, often selling the stolen credentials on underground forums.<\/p>\n<h4>How to Protect Yourself<\/h4>\n<p>Use a unique password for each site you access. Password managers can securely store and manage your credentials, ensuring you don\u2019t have to remember every single password. If you&#8217;re unsure where to start, explore some of the top password managers of 2021 for easy and secure password management.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Password Spraying: The Mass Attack<\/h3>\n<p>Password spraying is similar to credential stuffing, but instead of using stolen lists, hackers try common passwords (like &#8220;123456&#8221; or &#8220;password&#8221;) across many accounts. This technique is designed to avoid detection by systems that lock out users after several failed login attempts. It\u2019s effective because many people continue to use weak, easily guessable passwords.<\/p>\n<h4>How to Protect Yourself<\/h4>\n<p>Make sure you\u2019re using strong, unique passwords for all your accounts. Avoid using easily guessable information like names, birthdays, or common phrases. Tools like password checkers can help ensure your passwords are strong.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Keylogging: Silent and Stealthy<\/h3>\n<p>Keylogging is a more sophisticated attack. Hackers install software on your device that records keystrokes, allowing them to capture your login credentials. These attacks usually require physical access to your computer or the use of malicious links or software. With post-exploitation kits, hackers can access pre-built keyloggers and silently steal your passwords.<\/p>\n<h4>How to Protect Yourself<\/h4>\n<p>Invest in reliable security software that can detect and prevent keylogging malware. Regular updates to your operating system and antivirus software are essential for safeguarding your devices. Additionally, avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading unverified software.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Local Discovery: Writing Down Your Passwords<\/h3>\n<p>While it may seem like a simple and convenient solution, writing down passwords on sticky notes or paper puts your credentials at risk. If someone finds your note, they gain access to all of your accounts. While it may seem harmless, this method of storing passwords is an open invitation to cybercriminals.<\/p>\n<h4>How to Protect Yourself<\/h4>\n<p>Instead of writing passwords down, use a <strong>password manager<\/strong> to securely store your credentials. These tools encrypt your passwords and allow you to access them with a master password or biometric verification, keeping your sensitive data safe.<\/p>\n<h2>Stay Secure with a Managed IT Service Provider<\/h2>\n<p>As cyber threats evolve, it\u2019s important for businesses to stay ahead of the curve in cybersecurity practices. Partnering with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) can help protect your business from the latest security vulnerabilities and ensure your passwords\u2014and your organization\u2014remain secure. Our team of experts is ready to assess your current security protocols and help you implement strategies like 2FA, password management solutions, and endpoint protection.<\/p>\n<p>Are you ready to secure your business against cyber threats? <a href=\"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/contact-us\/\">Contact us<\/a> today to learn more about how our <a href=\"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/it-services\/\">MSP services<\/a> can help protect your digital assets, improve your cybersecurity posture, and keep your sensitive information safe.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='newsletter-cta'  class='avia-section av-k94bv4z5-3db5045821716543f466fd2ed6fe087e main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_one_full  avia-builder-el-last  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2809'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-51vv-890cb9339298166528b66afbca7f3287\">\n.flex_column.av-51vv-890cb9339298166528b66afbca7f3287{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-51vv-890cb9339298166528b66afbca7f3287 av_one_half  avia-builder-el-5  el_before_av_one_half  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-k91ny805-e4fa07328a97eaf5a443b98b19009ade '  ><div class='avia_textblock' ><p>Louisville Geek provides comprehensive managed IT services for a diverse range of businesses and non-profit organizations. We are passionate about IT and love what we do!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-2sej-3ae0b85a4ea0cf26f8956379e2e0883d\">\n.flex_column.av-2sej-3ae0b85a4ea0cf26f8956379e2e0883d{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-2sej-3ae0b85a4ea0cf26f8956379e2e0883d av_one_half  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_one_half  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-k94busar-1ebe35827b8056452803c9570dc5b3a4 '  ><div class='avia_textblock' ><h3>Stay updated by signing up for our newsletter<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2342,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cybersecurity-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>5 Most Common Ways Passwords Get Stolen<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how hackers steal passwords through phishing, credential stuffing, keylogging, and more. Discover practical tips and how partnering with an MSP can improve your security.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 Most Common Ways Passwords Get Stolen\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how hackers steal passwords through phishing, credential stuffing, keylogging, and more. Discover practical tips and how partnering with an MSP can improve your security.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Louisville Geek\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-05-10T18:00:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-13T10:16:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/email-phising-scams.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"lg_admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"lg_admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"5 Most Common Ways Passwords Get Stolen","description":"Learn how hackers steal passwords through phishing, credential stuffing, keylogging, and more. Discover practical tips and how partnering with an MSP can improve your security.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"5 Most Common Ways Passwords Get Stolen","og_description":"Learn how hackers steal passwords through phishing, credential stuffing, keylogging, and more. Discover practical tips and how partnering with an MSP can improve your security.","og_url":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809","og_site_name":"Louisville Geek","article_published_time":"2021-05-10T18:00:01+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-07-13T10:16:34+00:00","og_image":[{"width":800,"height":640,"url":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/email-phising-scams.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"lg_admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"lg_admin","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809"},"author":{"name":"lg_admin","@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/#\/schema\/person\/3be0d57bc8c8a3746bb75ce4d733211c"},"headline":"The Five Most Common Ways Your Passwords Get Stolen","datePublished":"2021-05-10T18:00:01+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-13T10:16:34+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809"},"wordCount":1303,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/email-phising-scams.png","articleSection":["Cybersecurity"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809","url":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809","name":"5 Most Common Ways Passwords Get Stolen","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/email-phising-scams.png","datePublished":"2021-05-10T18:00:01+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-13T10:16:34+00:00","description":"Learn how hackers steal passwords through phishing, credential stuffing, keylogging, and more. Discover practical tips and how partnering with an MSP can improve your security.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/email-phising-scams.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/email-phising-scams.png","width":800,"height":640,"caption":"Email phishing scams"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=2809#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Five Most Common Ways Your Passwords Get Stolen"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/","name":"Louisville Geek","description":"Empowering Local Businesses and National Enterprises with Comprehensive IT Services","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/#organization","name":"Louisville Geek","url":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/lougeek_full_logo-black-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/lougeek_full_logo-black-1.png","width":1671,"height":506,"caption":"Louisville Geek"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/#\/schema\/person\/3be0d57bc8c8a3746bb75ce4d733211c","name":"lg_admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e9e6411eb9b94c27ad6dcf6eeea2a67959e86f4aa3ee1cc1b61e042286e2d35?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e9e6411eb9b94c27ad6dcf6eeea2a67959e86f4aa3ee1cc1b61e042286e2d35?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e9e6411eb9b94c27ad6dcf6eeea2a67959e86f4aa3ee1cc1b61e042286e2d35?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"lg_admin"},"url":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2809","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2809"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2809\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7155,"href":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2809\/revisions\/7155"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}