Artificial intelligence has made astonishing progress in recent years, even displaying the ability to crack passwords at an alarming pace. A concerning new study has revealed that over 50% of commonly used passwords can be deciphered by AI in less than one minute. Within an hour, AI can crack 65% of passwords. And given a timeframe of one month, a shocking 81% of passwords used today are vulnerable to AI intrusion. This ability underscores the need for more robust security practices as AI technology continues to evolve. This article will overview the study’s findings and provide solutions for creating strong passwords that can withstand AI-driven attacks.
Study Findings
The study analyzing AI’s password-cracking capabilities was conducted by Home Security Heroes. They employed an AI password cracker named PassGAN to test a massive database of over 15 million real-world passwords. PassGAN leveraged its algorithmic power to attempt cracking these passwords.
The results were unsettling – within just one minute, PassGAN managed to crack 51% of the passwords successfully. This demonstrates that basic, predictable passwords can be easily compromised by AI brute force in a negligible timeframe.
The study also found that extending the timeframe to one hour allowed PassGAN to penetrate 65% of the passwords through computational brute forcing. And over the period of one month, a staggering 81% of the passwords were deciphered by the AI.
The analysis makes it evident that weak, generic passwords that are limited in length and complexity are extremely vulnerable against AI supercomputers. However, there are ways to safeguard one’s data against this threat.
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How to Stop AI Cracking Your Password
Here are tips to create strong passwords that can withstand AI cracking:
– Use at least 15 characters, with a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters. This exponentially expands the combination space.
– Avoid common strings like “password123” or “123456789”. Be unpredictable.
– Use a password manager to generate and store complex passwords rather than relying on memory.
– Enable two-factor authentication for accounts whenever possible. This adds a secondary layer beyond just the password.
– Change passwords every 3-6 months to stay ahead of AI capabilities. Avoid using identical passwords across different accounts.
– Use non-standard patterns like alternating letter cases or special characters placed randomly rather than just at the start or end.
– Be cautious of keyboard clicks – AI can analyze typing patterns. Use privacy screens when entering passwords.
Impact of Password Complexity
The research makes it evident that basic passwords are prone to AI deciphering in a short period of time. However, increasing complexity can thwart AI cracking attempts. For instance, 18-character or longer passwords composed of a high diversity of characters were resilient, with AI taking up to 10 months to crack them.
Passwords incorporating symbols, varied cases, misspelled words and random numbers proved the most immune, requiring quintillions of years to potentially compromise as per the study analysis. This demonstrates that humans can maintain the upper hand by embracing password complexity.
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Best Practices for Security
To stay ahead of the AI hacking threat, experts recommend the following best practices:
– Use at least 15-character long passwords containing uppercase, lowercase, special characters and numbers.
– Change passwords every 90-180 days and avoid repeating passwords for different accounts.
– Use a trusted password manager and generator tool for managing passwords.
– Enable two-factor or multi-factor authentication to enhance security.
– Be vigilant of malware and don’t click suspicious links – this is how password stealers operate.
Conclusion
The capabilities displayed by AI password hackers are concerning, but not unconquerable. With the right password hygiene practices, adopting longer and more complex passwords, using password managers, and enabling two-factor authentication, users can safeguard their data against AI intrusions. As artificial intelligence evolves, cybersecurity awareness and robust precautions will be vital to counter emerging threats. By taking proactive steps, password security can be fortified against AI’s growing prowess.
