Hackers are keenly aware that everyday people use and reuse weak passwords. That reality positions employees as the gateway into a business network. All a cybercriminal needs to do is identity a username and password and they can gain complete and total control over a company’s digital assets.

In response, platforms routinely store login profiles and seemingly encrypt the user’s password. But digital thieves have a veritable burglary toolkit to sidestep such common defenses. Chrome Password Manager delivers a proactive approach to utilizing strong and revolving passwords intended to frustrate and deter online thieves. If you are a corporate decision-maker concerned about the fact that in 2019 alone, more than 1,400 breaches exposed upwards of 164 million digital records in the U.S.

Google Consulting specialist Nick Hess with SureTec IT shares insights into how the Chrome Password Manager can help protect your data.

How Do Hackers Uncover Passwords?

The value of any password protection application must be understood in the context of the methods used by threat actors. Too many people are under the misconception that hackers simply guess at passwords. Nothing could be further from the truth. Cybercriminals are often intelligent profit-minded people with a moral compass pointed in the wrong direction. These are nefarious methods they commonly deploy to secure your password.

• Credential Stuffing: This method tests lists of swindled credentials to see if usernames and passwords are still active. Hackers typically employ automation to run through lengthy lists found on the dark web.
• Phishing: Ranked among the top methods used by hackers, this method involves sending out bulk emails laced with malicious applications. When someone clicks on a link or provides password information, hackers can breach the system or deliver ransomware to seize control. It’s essential to keep in mind that hacker penetrations often relies on stored passwords.
• Password Spraying: This method ranks among the most determined efforts used by digital thieves. Often businesses allow workers to use their email as the username. Cyber thieves test multiple login profiles with a list of potential passwords. A savvy hacker can indefinitely remain under a network's cybersecurity defenses undetected. If weak passwords are used, the digital thief will likely make short work of your organization.

Industry leaders would be wise to consider those clever cybercriminals are rarely detected unless they successfully breach your system. Unfortunately, that knowledge proves costly in terms of downtime, ransom payouts in bitcoin, and damaged reputation.

How Does Chrome Password Manager Work?

Google (News - Alert) Chrome provides a standard password tool that automatically fills usernames and passwords for wide-reaching accounts. After generating a random password, Chrome Password Manager then stores and syncs the characters across devices based on your Google Account. This prevents users from applying the same password — or slight variations — across online platforms such as e-commerce sites, social media, and work login profiles. These are proven benefits of using Chrome Password Manager.

• Detects registration forms automatically and generates a password for users
• Generated passwords are always unique
• Generated passwords adhere to website requirements for strength
• Generated passwords are encrypted
• Unique passwords automatically saved and synched
• Users continue to access the account via Chrome

Entrepreneurs, CEOs, and other industry leaders may be shocked to discover inherent network vulnerabilities due to poor password management. A piece posted on McAfee (News - Alert) called The Past, Present, and Future of Password Security reviews the findings of a World Password Survey. The results are a reason for concern.

“Unfortunately, not much has changed current day, as this year’s survey takeaways reminded us that password security still has ways to go. Consumers who responded to the survey have an average of 23 online accounts that require a password, but on average only use 13 unique passwords for those accounts,” Gary Davis reportedly writes. “(Thirty-one) percent only use two to three passwords for all their accounts so they can remember them more easily. And lists are far from dead, as the most common way to remember passwords is to keep a written or digital list of all passwords (52 percent).

Passwords remain the weak link in too many organizations’ cybersecurity strategy. Addressing this issue by leveraging the Chrome Password Manager under the direction of a managed IT cybersecurity specialist could prevent an imminent data breach.