Passwords are susceptible information used to gain access to resources that have restricted permissions on the web. An internet user who needs to get into a web application and make use of the information on the application will be needed to enter their user identity and password to get allowed onto the information system. These systems are designed to only let in those who have got passwords, and the passwords have to be correct, for that matter. Additionally, the password must also fit certain criteria set up while the password is being set, and once this is done, the system can control access through the use of passwords.
Passwords make it hard for parties that are not authorized to gain access to system resources from getting into the services. These passwords are also designed to ease access to information systems. The users of the systems are also known to change their passwords from time to time to discourage hackers from easily guessing the password and taking advantage of a system with strict security regulatory measures. By using passwords, information systems, and web applications stay protected.
The user’s privacy is also maintained, so the information system users will not have to be worried about losing information or getting their communication sessions intercepted while interacting with the web application. The web application also gets to secure the sessions for the users and the passwords clearly and uniquely identify the information systems’ users over the internet.
There are various ways in which passwords are stolen on the web, with the easiest and most typical being the use of spam mail. Spam messages usually promise rewards to anyone willing to open them and include a link to a website that looks similar to the genuine and legitimate websites or web applications that the user has used in the past. This web application that is a replica of the genuine one will then ask the user to log in to proceed to the web application. Still, once the user has entered the user name and the password, the website redirects them in a loop or to a page that indicates an error while, in reality, the password has been stolen. These emails are dangerous, and most email programs will mark messages as spam when they are of this nature. Avoiding spam messages reduces your likelihood of getting your password stolen on the web.
In conclusion, phishing is one of the common means through which passwords can be stolen on the web, with spam messages being used to spread the websites. The web application users will not tell the genuine website from the fake one, hence entering the security information into a website that needs to take advantage of them. This means they will lose their credentials, and the attacker will use this to their advantage.
