AI can crack your passwords. Here’s how Keeper can help.

As AI becomes more advanced, it’s important to consider all the ways AI can be used maliciously by cybercriminals, especially when it comes to cracking passwords. While AI password-cracking techniques aren’t new, they’re becoming more sophisticated and posing a serious threat to your sensitive data. Thankfully, password managers like Keeper Security exist and can help you stay safe from AI-password threats. Keeper auto-generates strong and unique passwords for each website, application and system you use – then, it securely autofills your login credentials so that you don’t have to worry about remembering complex passwords. 

Read on to learn how cybercriminals are using AI to crack passwords and how Keeper Password Manager can help protect you from AI password cracking. 

What Is AI?

Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI, refers to computer systems that can perform tasks that usually require human intelligence. These systems can learn from data and experiences, allowing them to make decisions, solve problems and recognize patterns. AI is used in various applications such as language translation, image recognition and making predictions based on data. You may be familiar with AI because of the increased popularity and use of AI machine learning models like ChatGPT. 

What Is Password Cracking?

Password cracking is the process of attempting to guess passwords without authorization from the individual who owns the account the password belongs to. Cybercriminals employ various techniques to uncover passwords, including educated guesses based on a victim’s personal information, trying common or previously leaked passwords and using advanced algorithms that rapidly test a wide range of password combinations. This can be done through the use of powerful computer programs and tools like AI. 

When a password is successfully cracked, cybercriminals are able to gain unauthorized access to sensitive accounts, data and systems. 

How Cybercriminals Use AI To Crack Passwords

Cybercriminals are using AI to crack passwords by leveraging them for acoustic side-channel, brute force and dictionary attacks. 

Acoustic side-channel attack

In an acoustic side-channel attack, cybercriminals use AI to analyze the distinct sound patterns produced by keyboard keystrokes. Each key on a keyboard emits a slightly different sound when pressed, which can be captured and analyzed to determine the characters being typed. For instance, the time delay between keystrokes and the unique sounds of various key combinations provide valuable information. By processing these sound patterns using AI algorithms, cybercriminals can determine the password being entered and use it to compromise an account.

Brute force attack

In a brute force attack, AI is used to automate guessing various password combinations until the correct password is found. This method is particularly effective against weak or short passwords because they’re not at least 16 characters long or complex. With AI, cybercriminals can quickly cycle through an immense number of password combinations, dramatically increasing the speed at which they crack passwords. For instance, a simple password like “123456” would be easily cracked using AI-powered brute force due to its limited complexity. 

According to a study done by Home Security Heroes, a password that contains numbers, upper and lowercase letters and symbols, but is only 5 characters long, would be cracked instantly by AI. Whereas a password that is 16 characters long, and contains numbers, upper and lowercase letters and symbols, would take 1 trillion years for AI to crack. 

Dictionary attack

A dictionary attack is a cyber attack where cybercriminals use common words or phrases to crack passwords. With the power of AI, cybercriminals are able to automate the testing of a large list of common words and phrases often used as passwords. These lists can include words from dictionaries, leaked password databases and even terms specific to a target’s interests. For example, if “football” is a common word in the dictionary list and someone uses “football” as their password, the AI-powered cybercriminal could quickly identify and exploit it. 

Keeper Protects Your Passwords From AI Password Cracking

Securing your passwords against evolving threats like AI-powered password cracking is crucial to keeping your data safe. Using Keeper as your dedicated password manager shields your sensitive data from these sophisticated attacks by aiding you in creating strong passwords, providing weak and reused password warnings, autofilling your credentials and sending you dark web alerts. 

Creates strong, unique passwords for you

Keeper Password Manager assists you in generating strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts with its integrated password generator. These complex passwords are designed to resist common password-cracking methods, including dictionary attacks, because they follow password best practices. By incorporating a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters, Keeper ensures that your passwords are always strong, protecting them against cybercriminals who use AI algorithms.

Warns you of weak and reused passwords

Keeper constantly scans your passwords for weak and reused passwords and provides you with a warning next to the associated record in your Keeper Vault. This feature helps you identify potential vulnerabilities that cybercriminals could exploit to gain access to your online accounts. Knowing which of your passwords are weak prompts you to change them, minimizing the risk of your accounts being compromised through password-cracking techniques like brute force attacks.

Autofills your credentials

Keeper’s password autofill feature, KeeperFill®, ensures that you can securely and conveniently log in to your accounts. Whenever you go to log in to an account, KeeperFill will prompt you to autofill your credentials if you have them saved in your vault. This not only saves time but also shields you from acoustic side-channel attacks since you won’t have to manually type in your passwords. By streamlining the password input process, Keeper minimizes the exposure of audible keystrokes, safeguarding you against cybercriminals attempting to decipher your passwords by sound. 

Sends you dark web alerts

A popular Keeper Password Manager add-on is the dark web monitoring feature, BreachWatch®. BreachWatch constantly scans the dark web for credentials that match the ones stored in your vault. If your credentials are found on the dark web, BreachWatch immediately notifies you so you can change your password right away. 

By staying informed about any breaches involving your passwords, you can take swift action before a cybercriminal is able to exploit a compromised credential. 

Ensure Your Security Against AI-Powered Password Cracking

In a world where AI poses growing risks to password security, it’s crucial to stay protected with the use of a password manager. With features like strong password creation and autofilling, Keeper Password Manager is a reliable solution against AI-powered password attacks.

See how Keeper enhances your online security by starting a free 30-day trial of Keeper Password Manager today.