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Showing posts with label Compromised Passwords. Show all posts
password alternatives
Compromised Passwords Cyber Security Google security Passkey Security passkeys for Google Account password alternatives

Google Password Warning Explained: Why Gmail Users Should Switch to Passkeys Now

 

Despite viral claims that Google is instructing every Gmail user to urgently change their password because of a direct breach, the reality is more nuanced. Google is indeed advising users to reset their credentials, but not due to a compromise of Gmail accounts themselves. Instead, the company is urging people to adopt stronger authentication—including passkeys—because a separate incident involving Salesforce increased the likelihood of sophisticated phishing attempts targeting Gmail users.  

The issue stems from a breach at Salesforce, where attackers linked to the ShinyHunters group (also identified as UNC6040) infiltrated systems and accessed business-related Gmail information such as contact directories, organizational details, and email metadata. Crucially, no Gmail passwords were stolen. However, the nature of the compromised data gives hackers enough context to craft highly convincing phishing and impersonation attempts. 

Google confirmed that this breach has triggered a surge in targeted phishing and vishing campaigns. Attackers are already posing as Google, IT teams, or trusted service vendors to deceive users into sharing login details. Some threat actors are even placing spoofed phone calls from 650–area-code numbers, making the fraud appear to originate from Google headquarters. According to Google’s internal data, phishing and vishing together now account for roughly 37% of all successful account takeovers, highlighting how effective social engineering continues to be for cybercriminals. 

With access to workplace information, attackers can send messages referencing real colleagues, departments, and recent interactions. This level of personal detail makes fraudulent communication significantly harder to recognize. Once users disclose credentials, attackers can easily break into accounts, bypass additional safeguards, and potentially remain undetected until major damage has been done. 

Google’s central message is simple—never share your Gmail password with anyone. Even callers who sound legitimate or claim to represent support teams should not be trusted. Cybersecurity experts emphasize that compromising an email account can grant attackers control over nearly all linked services, since most account recovery systems rely on email-based reset links. 

To reduce risk, Google continues to advocate for passkeys, which replace traditional passwords with device-based biometric authentication. Unlike passwords, passkeys cannot be phished, reused, or guessed, making them substantially more secure. Google also encourages users to enable app-based two-factor authentication instead of SMS codes, which can be intercepted or spoofed. 

Google’s guidance for users focuses on regularly updating passwords, enabling 2FA or passkeys, staying alert to suspicious messages or calls, using the Security Checkup tool, and taking immediate action if unusual account activity appears. This incident demonstrates how vulnerabilities in external partners—in this case, Salesforce—can still put millions of Gmail users at risk, even when Google’s own infrastructure remains protected. With more than 2.5 billion Gmail accounts worldwide, the platform remains a prime target, and ongoing awareness remains the strongest defense.
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VPN
Compromised Passwords Data Breach Specops User Privacy VPN

Specops Unearths Millions of Compromised VPN Passwords

 

The moment a password is discovered, a virtual private network (VPN) becomes public quickly. In a report published last week, password management provider Specops Software revealed 2,151,523 VPN credentials exposed by malware over the past year.

One professional at the company revealed that many users aren't protecting, or even caring all that much about, a valuable network entrypoint based on the 2 million+ VPN passwords that were pulled from the company's threat-intelligence platform. 

“If we look at some of the content of those passwords, that’s where we really start seeing where there’s still, unfortunately, a general apathy around security, and password security in particular,” Darren James, senior product manager at Outpost24 (which acquired Specops in 2021), stated. 

This is Qwerty. The report's most popular passwords are certainly familiar to you; they are the usual consecutive numbers and versions of "password" and "qwerty." The top compromised password—found 5,290 times, according to Specops—is "123456.” 

And, in fact, 5,290 represents progress—a "quite low" figure, according to the Specops team, given that the information contained almost 2 million VPN passwords. "This could suggest that end users may have generally been using unique, or even strong passwords for their VPN credentials," according to the Sept. 17 blog. 

Even complex passwords can be stolen, according to James, when spyware known as keystroke loggers monitor logins and phishing emails trick users into disclosing VPN credentials. According to a recent report by cyber insurance provider At-Bay, self-managed VPNs accounted for 63% of remote-access ransomware attacks in 2023. 

While several VPN-specific discoveries suggested consumer-level vulnerabilities, given the linked email addresses, the analysis also revealed corporate risk. Several discovered passwords meet the length and complexity requirements for Active Directory in many organisations.

Specops researchers recommend blocking several of the alleged stolen business passwords, such as Abcd@123# and Lordthankyou2.

“Ultimately, it comes down to password reuse. Even if you’ve got a super-strong password, you need to be able to check that that password hasn’t become breached or hasn’t been stolen since the last time you’ve set it,” James added.
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Zero Trust
Active Directory Authentication Compromised Passwords Cyber Security Cybersecurity Least Privilege Multi-factor authentication Network Security Password Security Security Zero Trust

Implementing Zero Trust Principles in Your Active Directory

 

In the past, many organizations relied on secure perimeters to trust users and devices. However, this approach is no longer viable with the geographical dispersion of workers and the need for access from various locations and devices. End-users now require access to corporate systems and cloud applications outside traditional work boundaries, expecting seamless and fast authentication processes.

Consequently, numerous organizations have adopted a zero-trust model to verify users accessing their data, recognizing Active Directory as a critical component of network authentication. Ensuring the security of credentials stored within Active Directory is paramount, prompting the question of how zero trust principles can be applied to maintain security.

The zero trust model, characterized by the principle of "never trust, always verify," requires authentication and authorization of every user, device, and network component before accessing resources or data. Implementing this model involves constructing a multi-layered security framework encompassing various technologies, processes, and policies.

One fundamental step in securing Active Directory environments is enforcing the principle of least privilege, which restricts privileges to the minimum necessary for individuals or entities to perform their tasks. This mitigates the risks associated with privileged accounts, reducing the potential impact of security breaches or insider threats.

Implementing a zero trust model also entails granting elevated privileges, such as admin rights, only when necessary and for limited durations. Techniques for achieving "just-in-time" privilege escalation include the ESAE (Red Forest) model and temporary admin accounts.

Additionally, employing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for password resets enhances security by adding extra layers of authentication beyond passwords. This mitigates vulnerabilities in password reset processes, which are often targeted by hackers through social engineering tactics.

Moreover, scanning for compromised passwords is crucial for enhancing password security. Despite the implementation of zero trust principles, passwords remain vulnerable to various attacks such as phishing and data breaches. Continuous scanning for compromised passwords and promptly blocking them in Active Directory helps prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data and systems.

Specops Password Policy offers a solution for scanning and blocking compromised passwords, ensuring network protection from real-world password attacks. By integrating such services, organizations can enhance their password security measures and adapt them to their specific needs.

Solutions like Specops Software provide valuable tools and support through demos or free trials for organisations seeking to bolster their Active Directory security and password policies.
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