Reusing passwords could really feel like a innocent shortcut – till a single breach opens the door to a number of accounts
08 Jan 2026
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4 min. learn
Reusing the identical password throughout a number of accounts could also be handy, nevertheless it units you up for hassle that may cascade throughout your digital life. This (dangerous) behavior creates the proper opening for credential stuffing, a method the place dangerous actors take a listing of beforehand uncovered login credentials and systematically feed the username and password pairs into the login fields of chosen on-line providers. And if you happen to recycle the identical credentials throughout numerous accounts, a single such pair can grant attackers entry to in any other case unrelated on-line providers.
Certainly, credential stuffing is the digital equal of somebody discovering a skeleton key that opens your home, workplace, and protected – multi functional sweep. And discovering that key needn’t be troublesome in any respect – it may be gathered from previous knowledge breaches and cybercrime markets or attackers can deploy so-called infostealer malware that siphons credentials off compromised gadgets and internet browsers.
What makes credential stuffing so harmful and efficient?
As might be apparent by now, this risk pays off handsomely for attackers due to our penchant for reusing passwords throughout accounts – together with high-value ones, reminiscent of on-line banking, electronic mail, social media and procuring websites. To gauge how frequent this dangerous behavior is, NordPass lately shared a survey stating that 62% of People confess to reusing a password “typically” or “at all times”.
As soon as an attacker finds login credentials in a single place, they’ll strive them in every single place. Then they’ll use bots or automated instruments to “stuff” these credentials into login varieties or APIs, generally rotating IP addresses and mimicking respectable consumer habits to remain beneath the radar.
In comparison with brute-force assaults, the place attackers try and guess a password utilizing random or generally used patterns, credential stuffing is easier: it depends on what individuals themselves or their on-line providers of alternative have already uncovered, typically years earlier. Additionally, not like brute pressure assaults, the place repeated login failures can set off alarms, credential stuffing makes use of credentials which are already legitimate and the assaults stay beneath the radar.
Whereas credential stuffing is in no way new, a number of developments have exacerbated the issue. Information-stealing malware has exploded in quantity, quietly capturing credentials instantly from internet browsers and might even be a risk for password managers. On the similar time, attackers can use (AI-assisted) scripts that simulate regular human habits and slip previous fundamental bot defenses, all whereas with the ability to take a look at credential pairs extra stealthily and at a higher scale.
Right here’s the size at which credential stuffing assaults could be carried out:
- In 2022, PayPal reported that almost 35,000 buyer accounts have been compromised by way of credential stuffing. The fintech agency itself was not breached – attackers merely leveraged login credentials from older knowledge leaks and accessed accounts belonging to customers who had recycled the identical passwords throughout a number of accounts.
- The 2024 assault wave concentrating on Snowflake prospects confirmed one other dimension of the issue. The info storage and processing service itself wasn’t breached, however the incident affected some 165 organizations who have been its prospects. This was after attackers used credentials beforehand stolen by way of infostealer malware to entry the corporations’ a number of Snowflake accounts, with some victims later receiving ransom calls for for stolen knowledge.
The best way to defend your self
Right here a number of sensible steps you’ll be able to take to remain protected. Step one specifically is (disarmingly) easy:
- By no means reuse the identical password throughout a number of websites or providers. A password supervisor makes this a breeze as it could generate and retailer sturdy, distinctive passwords for every account.
- Allow two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever doable. Even when attackers know your password, they nonetheless gained’t be capable to log in with out that second issue.
- Keep alert and in addition use providers reminiscent of haveibeenpwned.com to examine whether or not your electronic mail or credentials have been uncovered in previous leaks or breaches. If they’ve, take motion and alter your passwords instantly, particularly for accounts storing delicate knowledge.
The best way to defend your group
As of late, credential stuffing can be a major vector for account takeover, fraud, and large-scale knowledge theft throughout industries, together with retail, finance, SaaS, and well being care. Many organizations nonetheless rely solely on passwords for authentication and even the place 2FA is accessible, it is in no way at all times enforced by default. Corporations must also prohibit login makes an attempt, require community allow-lists or IP whitelisting, monitor for uncommon login exercise, and undertake bot-detection programs or CAPTCHA to dam automated abuse.
Importantly, many organizations are embracing passwordless authentication, reminiscent of passkeys, which successfully make credential stuffing ineffective. But adoption stays uneven, and outdated habits die laborious, so it is little shock that credential stuffing continues to ship a excessive return for attackers with minimal effort.
At the identical time, tens of millions of leaked credentials stay legitimate lengthy after a breach, particularly when customers by no means change their passwords. Due to this fact, credential stuffing is low-cost, extremely scalable, and persistently efficient for cybercriminals.
Conclusion
Credential stuffing is a surprisingly easy, low-cost and scalable assault method. It really works as a result of its makes use of our personal habits in opposition to us and subverts outdated safeguards. Until you need to transfer past passwords fully, the chance of account break-ins could be neutralized by means of considerate password practices. These aren’t optionally available – they should be commonplace apply.
