By Hamnaa 
Cyberthreats have become increasingly common, and mass hacking attacks are among the most widespread dangers. These attacks target large groups of users and steal their data.
A vast majority of people do not know how to avoid these mass hacking attacks. However, there are some simple tools and tricks that can be used to prevent these malpractices easily.
This article will walk you through some simple and clever tricks to help you avoid becoming a victim of mass hacking attacks.
Using Simple Tools for Cybersecurity
Several complicated practices can be easily done through tools to get defense against cyberattacks. I have listed some practices and some suitable tools as well to carry out those practices.
Password Managers
Sometimes when we create an account on any platform, we set a weak password or a password that we have already used on any other platform, thinking that this way passwords are memorized easily.
However, weak or reused passwords are one of the primary entry points of hackers. A password manager helps you generate, store, and auto-fill passwords for every account you use.
This practice eliminates the need to remember complex passwords and reduces the risk of using weak credentials.
Several online password managers are available that can be used to secure the accounts easily. The prime examples include LastPass; an online password manager that is used globally to maintain passwords with no hassle. I have shared an image of the tool’s interface below so that you can see how seamless the navigation is.
Source: https://www.lastpass.com/
You only need to create an account and then you can use it to generate and maintain your passwords. The tool is end-to-end encrypted and secure for every end-point, so you do not need to worry about your passwords getting leaked at any time.
Using Invisible Characters
Sometimes scripts are used to automate password guessing to carry out cyberattacks. In this practice, hackers deploy programs to try multiple password combinations or stolen credentials against your accounts. These programs use only ASCII characters for combination testing and invisible characters don’t come in the list of ASCII characters.
A password like Adam123 becomes Adam123 with the addition of invisible characters, appearing identical to humans but completely different from automated systems.
The use of online tools is also an option to add invisible characters to your passwords. A prime example is Editpad’s invisible space tool which is used by many people to add invisible characters to passwords.
The navigation of the tool is quite simple. The tool gives you two methods to use the invisible characters.
In method 1, you simply need to click the option of “copy to clipboard,” and the invisible character will get copied to the clipboard and you can then paste it in your password. To elaborate on the working of the tool, I have added an image of the tool’s output below.
Source: https://www.editpad.org/tool/invisible-character
Once you have copied the character, to check that it has been copied you can paste that down in the below test column and the gray text will disappear if it has been copied.
However, in any case, if this method does not work on your device, you can use the second method which is explained below.
In Method 2, you have to click the option of “select text,” and once it is selected, you can copy it and add it to your password simply. To check whether the character has been copied or not, you can paste it down in the test column below. The gray text will disappear if the text has been copied.
Refer to the screenshot below to understand it better.
Two-factor authentication (2FA)
Source: https://authenticator.cc/
Before logging in to any account, the two-factor authentication asks for a second verification. There are no worries if any hacker has obtained your account’s passwords, they would not be able to access your account without the second step.
Let me explain in simple words how this works. Once you have entered the password, you will be prompted for a code sent to your phone, email, or authentication app. Authenticator.cc is a widely used tool for two-factor authentication.
The tool is simple to use. It will show you the code and you simply have to verify it and the verification is done.
Clever Trick:
Instead of using online tools, some tricks can also be used to avoid cyberattacks.
Create Passphrases Instead of Passwords
Traditionally, we used to set up our passwords like 12345, or starting with our name and ending with 123, again thinking that this type of password is easy to remember. They are no longer safe. Instead, consider using passphrases, memorable yet complex combinations of words, symbols, and numbers.
I have listed some examples below of some passphrases that you can use instead of using those weak passwords.
· Blue!Elephant_2023
· Sky#Sun@Bright99
· Moonlight@9988!
The use of these passphrases makes it harder for hackers to crack the credentials rather than typical strings of characters. You must have observed that they are also easier to remember and strong enough to defend against mass attacks.
Avoid Reuse of Passwords
Many people use the same password across multiple accounts which is a serious threat to the security of their accounts. If any of your accounts get compromised, the hacker can get access to all your other accounts as well.
The key is to use different and unique passwords at every platform and maintain them through a password manager as I have told you earlier as well.
Like if you use john123, it is easy to guess. Instead of it, you could try using !!john@321 which is unique and hard to be generally guessed.
This way a serious security threat to your accounts will be reduced.
Use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
VPN encrypts your internet connection. It protects your online activity from hackers, especially on public Wi-Fi networks.
Virtual Private Networks hide your IP address and location. It also secures your data from interception by any hacker or third party who can see your live activity and hack your accounts.
However, it is better to use registered VPN networks as using others can be an illegal practice and you might have to face consequences of it.
Final Talk
Protecting yourself from mass hacking attacks doesn’t have to be complicated.
With the right tools like password managers, two-factor authentication, invisible character tools, and VPNs, you can secure your accounts and data effectively. Simple tricks like creating unique passphrases and avoiding password reuse add another layer of defense.
By combining these strategies, you can significantly reduce your vulnerability to cyberattacks and ensure your online presence remains safe.