AI Technology "PassGAN" can Crack Common Passwords at Unbelievable Speeds
A recent study by identity theft prevention company Home Security Heroes has revealed that an Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology called PassGAN can crack any kind of seven-character password, including those containing symbols, in just six minutes. PassGAN is a generative AI service that was used to run through 15,680,000 common passwords from the Rockyou dataset to determine how long it would take to crack them.
According to the study, 65% of common passwords could be cracked in less than an hour, and 81% of common passwords can be cracked in less than a month. However, it took the AI password cracker at least 10 months to crack number-only passwords and six quintillion years to crack those that contain symbols, numbers, lower-case letters, and upper-case letters. The study found that 18-character passwords are generally safe against AI password crackers like PassGAN.
PassGAN runs on a neural network that trains machines to interpret and analyze data like humans do. Home Security Heroes warns that PassGAN represents a "concerning advancement in password cracking techniques" that makes it easier for cybercriminals to crack passwords and gain access to personal data.
To protect passwords, users need to update them regularly and ensure their strength. Home Security Heroes recommends using at least 15 characters, avoiding obvious patterns, and having at least two upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. It is also crucial to generate new passwords for each account, as a bad actor can easily access multiple accounts if the same password is used.
In conclusion, the study highlights the need for strong and secure passwords to protect personal data from cybercriminals who use AI password cracking techniques like PassGAN. It is important to follow recommended password security practices to stay safe from identity theft and cybersecurity threats.