Instagram is one of the social networks with more users worldwide. Millions of people use them to hang photos and videos of their trips, daily activities and many other things. There are also certain people who use it in an educational way, sharing advice of different types among which are very common on food recipes. This social network is also widely used by all types of institutions. From governments, police forces to sports teams.
However, as in life, everything that shines is not gold. TThere are also many cybercriminals who try to take advantage of users. The most common way is hacking. Everyone has a followed user who has suddenly started uploading totally different things to those usually up and finally, another account is created and warns that his has been stolen. Hackers use different techniques to steal accounts and supplant identity.
Password theft is for them one of the simplest ways for them and most used to enter others. An expert in cybersecurity uncovered In the account ‘@raveprivacity’ The most common error of users that allows these criminals to take control of the account.
This is the most common mistake with passwords
“Have a weak password and a filtered email”says the expert. Subsequently, he explains what he means having an email filtered with an example: “It means that you are called lauragomez84@hotmail.com and you have used it everywhereincluding Instagram, and your password is the name of your pet that you publish on Instagram, followed by the initials of your name and that of your brother, which you also publish its name. “Explain that this is the difficult way, but that there is another.
“The easy way is to access certain websites that are public, Hashed, for example”reveals. “You pay a little there, you put an email and see all the passwords associated with that email that have leaked “he adds. Repetition is a habitual mistake: “As people always repeat the same password, I have accessed your Instagram password, especially if you don’t have the second authentication factor,”. Errors can be explained through four basic points:
- Weak and predictable password: Use the name of your pet or easy combinations that include your name or that of a relative.
- Filtered email: If your email appears in filtered databases, anyone can look for the password.
- Do not activate two steps verification: Without this extra security factor, your account is more exposed. The criminals have a less wall.
- Reuse passwords on several platforms: If one of them is hacked, they can already enter your Instagram.
Four tips to create safe passwords
The National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) Work constantly to detect threats and try to inform them. On their official website they explain the different techniques that are used to perform this password theft. Besides, They share a series of recommendations to create the safer passwords possible. Are the following:
- Length: Choose passwords that have at least 8-10 characters. The longer the password, the better.
- Character combinations: Ensure that the key is composed of letters (upper and lower case), special numbers and characters (such as @, #, $, or*).
- Personal information: Do not include personal information on your password, such as name, birthday or phone number. These data are easy to guess or discover by anyone who knows or has information about you.
- Common words: Avoid the words of the dictionary of any language or sequences of the keyboard (for example, “123456” or “qwerty”), since they can be easily guess through dictionary attacks.