{"id":302667,"date":"2025-05-09T02:49:22","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T09:49:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=302667"},"modified":"2025-07-25T04:10:57","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T11:10:57","slug":"celebrate-world-password-day-by-battling-the-thieves-who-want-your-credentials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/celebrate-world-password-day-by-battling-the-thieves-who-want-your-credentials\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrate World Password Day by Battling the Thieves Who Want Your Credentials"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;Password thieves are a type of malware affecting millions of users worldwide, and here\u2019s how you can fight back. Malware is everywhere; it\u2019s a money-making venture for countless cybercriminals who want to profit at our expense. Their job is to try to steal from us through extortion, and our job is to recognize their tactics so we can thwart their hacking attempts.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"sc-card-program\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-program__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.sftcdn.net\/images\/t_app-icon-s\/p\/afedbb98-96d0-11e6-a476-00163ed833e7\/2476911703\/avg-antivirus-free-AVG-Antivirus-logo-256x256.png\" alt=\"AVG AntiVirus Free\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-title\">\r\n        <span class=\"sc-card-program__title\">AVG AntiVirus Free<\/span>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-program__button sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/www.avg.com\/free-antivirus-download?full_trSrc=mmm_sft_dlp_008_393_m&amp;utm_source=softonic&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=sft_dlp_008_393_m:may\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Download<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-rating\">\r\n        <svg class=\"rating-score__content\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.1\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 50 50\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 50 50\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><path class=\"rating-score__background rating-score--good\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><path class=\"rating-score__value rating-score__value--0\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-dashoffset=\"0\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><text class=\"rating-score__number\" content=\"\" text-anchor=\"middle\" transform=\"matrix(1 0 0 1 25 31.0837)\" data-auto=\"app-user-score\"><\/text><\/svg>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <span class=\"sc-card-program__description\"><\/span>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__bigpic\" src=\"\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\">\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-program__link track-link sc-card-program-sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/www.avg.com\/free-antivirus-download?full_trSrc=mmm_sft_dlp_008_393_m&amp;utm_source=softonic&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=sft_dlp_008_393_m:may\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First things first: let\u2019s talk about password stealers. They\u2019re the subject of this informative article in celebration of World Password Day, which takes place on May 5, 2025. As always, we remind you that the best defense against malware starts with a solid offense\u2014in this case, installing a reliable antivirus. Our recommendation is AVG\u2019s free option, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.avg.com\/free-antivirus-download?full_trSrc=mmm_sft_dlp_008_393_m&amp;utm_source=softonic&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=sft_dlp_008_393_m:may\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">AVG AntiVirus Free 2025<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Protect Your Devices with AVG | Fast, Reliable Antivirus for Everyone\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BAI__xJN46s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Are Password Thieves?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;Password thieves are a form of malware or spyware that secretly installs itself on a computer. They\u2019re a type of Trojan that finds its way onto your system, often when someone opens the wrong email attachment or runs a program downloaded from a sketchy site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dangerous part is that this malware can run in the background without detection. It could be months before anyone realizes their passwords or other data have been stolen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Does This Malware Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;Password thieves capture login credentials but often seek other types of sensitive information too. The malware collects login data as you type. Running silently in the background, it gathers keystrokes and sends them to a website owned by the cybercriminal, storing all the stolen information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Tell If You\u2019ve Been Infected by a Password Stealer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;The most reliable way to spot password thieves before they do any damage is by using a powerful, up-to-date antivirus on all your devices. We recommend AVG\u2019s lineup, especially <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.avg.com\/free-antivirus-download?full_trSrc=mmm_sft_dlp_008_393_m&amp;utm_source=softonic&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=sft_dlp_008_393_m:may\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">AVG AntiVirus Free 2025<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This antivirus scans and detects the malware, placing any password stealer in quarantine (isolating and removing it from your system). It\u2019s crucial to install antivirus software on all your computers and ensure it\u2019s set up properly\u2014meaning it regularly scans your devices and frequently updates its virus definitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Important Note:<\/strong> Real-time antivirus protection allows the antivirus to monitor active processes, comparing them to its malware database to detect password-stealing software right as it tries to operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips for Keeping Your Passwords Secure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;If you want to steer clear of password troubles, here are the best steps you can take in your daily routine. They\u2019re not foolproof, but they\u2019ll keep hackers away 99% of the time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use a Password Manager<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> Store all your passwords in a reliable password management system.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Avoid Reusing Passwords<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> Never use the same password for more than one account or service, even though it may seem like a hassle.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t Rely on Simple Patterns<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> Using the same core password everywhere but adding a single digit at the end is risky (e.g., \u201cHouse1,\u201d \u201cHouse2\u201d). It\u2019s not a smart choice.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Get Creative with Security Questions<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> For password security questions, don\u2019t answer with your real information. Instead, type in a nonsensical or random response and record it in your password manager, noting which question goes with which answer.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> If a site offers 2FA, turn it on. Even if attackers somehow get your username and password, the extra authentication layer can still keep them out.<br><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s no guarantee of 100% safety, but these best practices can help you stay in a strong position and give you the best possible protection against password thieves.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"sc-card-program\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-program__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.sftcdn.net\/images\/t_app-icon-s\/p\/afedbb98-96d0-11e6-a476-00163ed833e7\/2476911703\/avg-antivirus-free-AVG-Antivirus-logo-256x256.png\" alt=\"AVG AntiVirus Free\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-title\">\r\n        <span class=\"sc-card-program__title\">AVG AntiVirus Free<\/span>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-program__button sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/www.avg.com\/free-antivirus-download?full_trSrc=mmm_sft_dlp_008_393_m&amp;utm_source=softonic&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=sft_dlp_008_393_m:may\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Download<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-rating\">\r\n        <svg class=\"rating-score__content\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.1\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 50 50\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 50 50\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><path class=\"rating-score__background rating-score--good\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><path class=\"rating-score__value rating-score__value--0\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-dashoffset=\"0\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><text class=\"rating-score__number\" content=\"\" text-anchor=\"middle\" transform=\"matrix(1 0 0 1 25 31.0837)\" data-auto=\"app-user-score\"><\/text><\/svg>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <span class=\"sc-card-program__description\"><\/span>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__bigpic\" src=\"\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\">\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-program__link track-link sc-card-program-sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/www.avg.com\/free-antivirus-download?full_trSrc=mmm_sft_dlp_008_393_m&amp;utm_source=softonic&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=sft_dlp_008_393_m:may\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Power of a Good Antivirus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;Finally, remember there\u2019s nothing more effective than installing robust antivirus software on all your computers\u2014software designed specifically to combat cybercriminals at every turn. We highly recommend you try <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.avg.com\/free-antivirus-download?full_trSrc=mmm_sft_dlp_008_393_m&amp;utm_source=softonic&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=sft_dlp_008_393_m:may\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">AVG AntiVirus Free<\/a><\/strong>, which meets modern security standards, provides all the tools you need to protect your devices, and best of all, is completely free.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;Password thieves are a type of malware affecting millions of users worldwide, and here\u2019s how you can fight back. Malware is everywhere; it\u2019s a money-making venture for countless cybercriminals who want to profit at our expense. Their job is to try to steal from us through extortion, and our job is to recognize their tactics &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/celebrate-world-password-day-by-battling-the-thieves-who-want-your-credentials\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Celebrate World Password Day by Battling the Thieves Who Want Your Credentials&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9265,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","wpcf-pageviews":0},"categories":[1015],"tags":[],"usertag":[],"vertical":[],"content-category":[6463],"class_list":["post-302667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","content-category-antivirus"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9265"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=302667"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302667\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":343301,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302667\/revisions\/343301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=302667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=302667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=302667"},{"taxonomy":"usertag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/usertag?post=302667"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=302667"},{"taxonomy":"content-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-category?post=302667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}