People enjoy several benefits in the modern-day digital world. Yet, the security and privacy risks cannot be undermined, too. To keep security issues at bay and to experience the true essence of the digital world, a VPN or virtual private network is the right solution. A VPN is a popular tool known for its encryption standards. However, it does not mean that you are completely safe on the internet. The real strength of the network architecture relies on how secret and solid the VPN password is. Typically, passwords are not only keys but also represent the first line of defence in the online space. Similar is the case with VPN passwords. Are VPN passwords important? Can cybercriminals steal these passwords? What is the best way to keep them safe? Let’s learn more about VPN passwords in this post.
VPN passwords: What makes them so important?
A VPN makes the internet journey safe for its users. It makes sure that no one can read or use your information for their benefit. A VPN encrypts user data in scrambled texts making it impossible to decode. That way, an intruder cannot intercept the data and take advantage of it. It connects a user to a server through a secured tunnel. In short, it creates a route for your activities online. So, what are VPN passwords and how do they fit into this? As said, a VPN is a barrier that safeguards your online activities so that everything stays private and safe. This barrier has a door which is known as a VPN password. If the barrier is weak, anyone can break in. However, if it is strong, it restricts unauthorized visitors. Therefore, it is important to have a robust VPN password to keep your digital world safe.
Apart from that, when you use a VPN, the password makes sure that you are using the internet and not an imposter. Your VPN password verifies your identity, preventing others from accessing your connection. In this digital world, impersonation is easy. A robust VPN password makes a secret handshake between the VPN service and the user. Both parties know that the connection is between authorized persons.
Consider all your online activities while using a VPN. For example, you stream movies or TV shows, buy something, perform financial transactions, or chat with your loved ones. Plenty of information goes through a safe passage when using a VPN. In case an intruder breaks, there could be serious problems. Hence, you need to have a strong VPN password to safeguard your privacy. Additionally, having a strong VPN password makes sure that your online activities stay safe.
VPN passwords: The rising demand for compromised passwords
No wonder, the online market is full of illegal activities. Among them, stolen information is always in high demand. Sadly, VPN passwords fall into the stolen information category as well. But how are they made available in the online black market? Here is how.
- Phishing scams – These scams use deceptive messages that seem legitimate. Phishing scams appear as emails, pop-up ads, or social media DMs. They lure you to click these messages intentionally. They deceive you to enter personal details including passwords.
- Data breaches – Sometimes massive amounts of personal data get compromised when organizations suffer severe online attacks. These data might contain login details of users.
- Malware attacks – To access or damage your devices without alerting you, hackers use malware. This specially designed software monitors your keystrokes and sends the information to hackers. It reveals your passwords.
- Accidental leaks – In this digital world, human error can occur sometimes. Certain types of mistakes such as securing a database or sending important pieces of information to an unauthorized person can make passwords exposed.
The Shadowy Underworld of Compromised VPN Passwords
You may think that your personal information is not significant when considering a broader scope. But cybercriminals value every piece of information. So, when a hacker steals VPN passwords, where do they go? Surprisingly, the online black market is the darkest alley on the internet. This shadowy corner has an expansive and thriving marketplace best suited for specific buyers.
- Dark web and deep web – The internet that everyone browses daily is a regular one. Beyond that lies the dark web and deep web. Illicit and illegal activities take place in these corners of the internet. It includes selling compromised digital credentials like VPN passwords. Hackers use the stolen passwords for dubious activities. Also, they sell the passwords further resulting in increasing the risks of online attacks.
- Lists of passwords in bulk – Sometimes, imposters want more than one password to infiltrate many accounts. Hackers gather lists of stolen passwords and offer other cybercriminals to buy them in bulk. The bulk lists are useful for launching attacks on a large scale. Furthermore, they can process the lists to create more hacks in the future.
Password Managers: Your Secure Digital Vault
VPN passwords are in great demand because hackers use them for personal benefit. With the rising need for digital services among users, the password list keeps on growing as well. Keeping the passwords strong yet unique for every online service seems daunting. The solution to this problem is not using the same passwords on multiple sites. Instead, use password managers.
A password manager stores your passwords in a database safely. The best part is that you do not have to memorize passwords for every account. When you need to log in to one account, the password manager retrieves the password on your behalf. Password managers depend on certain key components for users to use them comfortably.
- Encryption – Apart from storing passwords, a password manager encrypts them as well. Even if someone gains access to the application, decoding the passwords is almost impossible without the master key.
- Auto password generation – Almost every password manager has a feature called automatic password generator. It creates random, strong passwords that you do not have to remember. Besides, hackers cannot crack these passwords.
- Security alerts – Some of the most advanced password managers scan the web regularly for data breaches. If a service gets exposed, they will send alerts to change the password associated with the service.
VPN passwords: How to update it
VPN passwords should be updated frequently to maintain online safety. This becomes important in case an intruder exposes your password. Still, they cannot access your VPN account. Here is how to update your VPN password if you are using IPVanish.
- Log in to your IPVanish account
- Select ‘Reset My Password’
- Enter the most recent password used for IPVanish in the field named ‘Current Password’
- Insert the new password in the fields named ‘New Password’ and ‘Confirm Password’
- Press the ‘Submit’ button to request for password change
Why you should choose a reliable VPN provider
The purpose of a VPN is to keep your data safe. A reliable VPN provider implements features that keep your information safe. Moreover, it keeps your VPN password safe, too. Choose a provider that follows fair privacy policies.
For example, IPVanish features a no-logs privacy policy. It means that IPVanish does not log in, monitor, or collect your browsing activities. To maintain transparency and trust among its users, cybersecurity experts verified and audited the practices followed by IPVanish.
The need for online security increased with the rising demand for the internet. Although a VPN provides an additional layer of security, its efficiency depends on how strong your password is. Your online activities stay protected when you understand the threats and follow best practices. Create a robust VPN password and update it regularly.
