Account Security

What Are Hardware Security Keys? Hardware security keys are physical devices that prove your identity without relying on passwords or phone numbers. They use cryptographic protocols (FIDO2/WebAuthn) to authenticate securely to websites and services. Unlike authenticator apps that generate time-based codes or SMS text messages, security keys provide the strongest form of two-factor authentication. They’re resistant to phishing, hacking, and interception because the authentication happens at the protocol level without ever transmitting passwords or codes. ...

Understanding Password Breaches A password breach occurs when attackers gain unauthorized access to user credential databases and expose passwords to the public. Major breaches happen frequently—in 2024, billions of credentials were exposed through various security incidents. When a password breach happens, attackers obtain your password in plain text or encrypted form. Even encrypted passwords can be cracked using specialized tools if the encryption is weak. Once attackers have your credentials, they can attempt to access your accounts, commit identity theft, or sell the credentials to other criminals. ...