How Hackers Try to Guess Your Password
When we think about hackers, we often imagine complicated schemes or advanced software. But the truth is, many cybercriminals rely on something much simpler: people using the same password in more than one place.
They don’t need to trick you or target you directly. They just need one password that’s easy to guess or has already been leaked somewhere else.
Here are some of the most common tricks hackers use — and how you can avoid becoming an easy target.
The Rapid-Fire Guessing Game
Hackers use tools that automatically try thousands of password combinations until one works. These tools are especially good at trying the most common choices — things like 123456, password1, or names of pets.
If your password is simple or on a commonly used list, it could take just seconds to guess.
Trying One Password on Many Accounts
This trick is surprisingly effective. Instead of guessing lots of passwords for one account, hackers try one popular password (like Welcome2024!) on many different accounts.
Why? Because they know lots of people reuse the same password in more than one place. They only need one match to get in.
Using Leaked Passwords From Other Breaches
When a company suffers a data breach, stolen usernames and passwords often end up for sale online. Hackers buy these lists and try the same login on popular sites like banking apps, email providers, or social networks.
If you’ve ever reused that password elsewhere, you’re at risk—even if the original breach wasn’t from a site you use anymore.
Watching What You Type
Sometimes, hackers install harmful software on devices to watch what you type — including your passwords. This is rare for most individuals, but it can happen through phishing emails, fake downloads, or unsafe websites.
Buying Your Info Off the Dark Web
There are corners of the internet where stolen data is bought and sold — including passwords, email addresses, and more. Criminals can use that information to try to access your accounts without you even knowing.
This may sound scary, but there are ways to protect yourself. There are even some services available that will let you check if your email has been involved in a past breach. (See link below.)
So What Can You Do?
The good news? These attacks mostly rely on predictable behavior. If you’re not reusing passwords, and you’ve got a stronger system in place, you’ve already made it much harder for a hacker to break in.
Related Resources
How to Check If Your Password Has Been Compromised
How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication on Your Most Important Accounts
What Is Password Fatigue — And Why It Puts You at Risk
