Cybersecurity Concerns Related to Passwords Password theft, in which an attacker steals the associated identity, is prevalent. However, it can be prevented or largely mitigated by implementing strong password management policies. Some common techniques for cracking passwords include: Performing dictionary attacks: Such attacks typically rely on software that automatically plugs common words into password fields. Guessing simple passwords: The most popular password is 123456. The next most popular password is admin. Other common choices are password, admin123, and 12345. Taking advantage of password reuse: When one data breach compromises passwords, attackers will then try to use that same login information to compromise users’ other accounts. Reusing passwords for email, banking, and social media accounts can lead to identity theft. Cracking security questions: Many people use the names of spouses, kids, other relatives, or pets in security questions or as passwords them
