How to Effectively Prevent Credential Stuffing Cyberattacks

Key Takeaways

Credential stuffing is a common cyberattack where stolen usernames and passwords are used to gain unauthorized access to multiple accounts.

Protect yourself against credential stuffing by:

- Creating complex and unique passwords for each service

- Utilizing a password manager

- Enabling multi-factor authentication

- Deleting or securing unused accounts.

Additionally, you can safeguard against credential stuffing by using an email alias service to conceal your primary email address.

You may not be familiar with the term "credential stuffing," but that doesn't mean you haven't been a victim of this pervasive and successful cyberattack. Discover what credential stuffing is and learn simple ways to safeguard yourself against it in this article, presented in partnership with Incogni for Cybersecurity Awareness Week.

What Is Credential Stuffing?

There is a wide range of cyberattack vectors, varying from the remarkably basic to the exceptionally sophisticated. On the simpler end, there are attacks such as social engineering exploits. In these instances, malicious actors utilize their social skills and manipulate the trust of others to gain unauthorized access to logins, sensitive information, and more. It is not necessary to be well-versed in cryptographic concepts or any technical jargon to successfully carry out a social engineering attack.

At the more intricate end of the spectrum, there exist attacks that necessitate the malicious actors to breach numerous levels of security, seize information, and subsequently decrypt and decipher that information.

The initial stage in executing a credential stuffing attack involves decrypting the aforementioned information, particularly when it comprises a compilation of usernames or email addresses along with their corresponding passwords. Here's an explanation of the mechanics behind this attack and how it can directly impact you.

Imagine that you, like countless other internet users, possess numerous accounts spread across various platforms. Among them are a few logins that hold significant value and pose higher risks, such as those for your email and banking services. Additionally, there are numerous logins with relatively lower value and risks, like the ones for a muscle car forum you occasionally visit or an account you created on a coupon website.

Ideally, your bank and email service provider boast excellent security measures. High-value targets are typically fortified to mitigate successful attacks, making it unlikely for anyone to breach Bank of America or Gmail and gain access to all the usernames and passwords. However, the same level of assurance cannot be given for less protected platforms like the car forum or coupon site. What happens when someone exploits these vulnerable sites and pilfers all the user data? In an instant, they would possess your username, quite possibly your email address, and your password.

Malicious actors exploit this data by inputting it into automated systems, which then proceed to access numerous important and prominent targets, attempting to log in using the stolen credentials and testing them out to see where they are applicable.

If you consistently employ the same usernames, email addresses, and passwords across all your online platforms, you are at great risk. A breach in a low-risk service you currently use becomes a gateway into all the valuable services you rely on, such as your email account and banking services.

There isn't a direct counterpart in the physical world, but if there were, it would involve using a single key for all purposes. If this key were lost or duplicated, it would grant access to your home, car, office, storage unit, safe deposit box, gym locker, and everything in between. It might even unlock the door to your parents' house. Clearly, such a situation is far from ideal, which is why physical keys are not used in this manner.

How Can I Protect Myself Against Credential Stuffing?

Create Complex and Unique Passwords

When learning about good password practices, one recurring advice is to use complex and unique passwords for each service you use. There is a valid reason behind this recommendation. To effectively tackle the issue of "one key opens every door," it is essential to have a substantial keyring with a dedicated key for every virtual door in your life.

If you have been using the same password or a few passwords since you created your first email account many years ago, now is the perfect time to embrace this crucial password habit. It is important to assign a unique password to every site and service without making any exceptions.

Automate Your Passwords with a Password Manager

If you find yourself using the same passwords over and over again, chances are you haven't yet adopted a password manager. That's why you might have felt a bit resistant when we suggested in the previous section that each service should have its own unique password. It can be quite overwhelming to maintain a complex and distinctive password for numerous services, and this task becomes even more challenging when you have to handle hundreds of them. Fortunately, there are tools available to aid you in this endeavor.

Use a password manager to simplify and enhance your password management. Set a strong yet memorable password to access the manager, allowing it to take care of the rest.

A reliable password manager not only generates unique and complex passwords but also keeps track of them. It automatically fills in passwords for websites you visit and assists in regular updates. By not utilizing a password manager, you're overlooking a remarkable improvement in your daily life and neglecting one of the most effective methods to enhance the security of your accounts.

If you are unfamiliar with password managers, we recommend referring to our comprehensive guide on how to get started. This guide addresses frequently asked questions and provides insights into the everyday experience of using a password manager.

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication Everywhere

Many individuals resist implementing multi-factor authentication due to perceiving it as an inconvenience. However, it presents an excellent opportunity to enhance the security of your accounts. Even if you tend to reuse passwords, having multi-factor authentication enabled on your important accounts safeguards you against credential stuffing. Even if a malicious actor obtains your username and password from a compromised website, they would be unable to access your authenticator app, phone, or any other multi-factor tools.

Purge Old Accounts to Reduce Risk

If you have an account that you're not using, it's best to delete it. Online accounts don't have a physical presence like items cluttering up your office or overflowing from your kitchen junk drawer, making it tempting to just ignore them. However, if you have no use for an account, there is no valid reason to hang on to it.

When feasible, remove any accounts for services you no longer find valuable. And in cases where deletion is not possible, make sure to log in and modify your password (utilizing the password generator feature offered by your convenient password manager, naturally). Consequently, if the unused service experiences a security breach, the only information that becomes exposed is a distinctive and intricate password that holds no value elsewhere.

Use An Email Alias Service

While not everyone may be inclined to go through the additional steps, we strongly advocate for the use of an email alias service to safeguard your online presence. In essence, instead of providing your main email address to every service that requires it (like the revered firstname.lastname@gmail.com address you obtained years ago), an alias service enables you to generate an endless number of email addresses to use for both major and minor platforms.

When you need to register for another service, be it for your child's school, an application, or any other email-dependent service, you can keep your primary email address confidential and simply provide them with a unique email alias.

Once they start spamming you or when you deactivate the service, you can immediately discard it. An email alias service not only ensures your privacy and keeps your inbox free of clutter but also provides a protective measure if the service you signed up for is compromised. Hackers will not be able to access your_primary_email@gmail.com, instead, they will only receive a non-credential value such as somerandomstring@some-alias-provider.com.

Regardless of how you tackle the issue, do not overlook the first and most crucial tip we provided. Utilizing a complex and unique password for each service is the simplest and most effective way to safeguard yourself against credential stuffing. It is advisable to start implementing this practice as soon as possible.