Credential Stuffing Attacks: Is your Business Safe?

Cybercriminals use various means to compromise businesses. One of these methods involves trying generated usernames and passwords combinations against websites and servers. This is known as a brute force attack. Brute force is done with the hope that one of the numerous credentials will be correct and give unauthorized access to the hacker. A subset of brute force attacks is credential stuffing.

What is Credential Stuffing

Credential stuffing involves the use of a large collection of stolen login credentials against various online services.

It has a higher success rate compared to traditional brute force because the usernames and passwords have been used by real people.

Credential stuffing is highly dependent on automation. Hackers use custom bots to log into several online services simultaneously with a database of stolen credentials.

For instance, attackers may take usernames and passwords leaked from social media sites and try them against financial institutions.

Sources of Credentials

Most credentials used by attackers in credential stuffing attacks are from data breaches on popular internet companies, social media, government servers, and other online services.

Hackers obtain these credentials through:

1. Dark Web Sales
Stolen credentials from various websites and sold on the dark web. The dark web offers protection for traders of stolen credentials. The recent ones are often put up for sale at a cost. Sales are done directly by the masterminds or through gang of resellers.

2. Open Internet Sources
Many database leaks from the past are still being hosted by various internet websites including those operated by researchers. Some hackers prefer publicity and choose to dump credentials from data leaks directly on the internet.

3. Data Breach Collections
Some malicious actors who are not directly involved in a breach are in the habit of searching the internet to gather leaked data and then aggregate them into massive collections. The collections are sold at a cost or released into the public domain.

How Credential Stuffing Works

Credential stuffing attacks follow a pattern as described below:

1. Hackers search the internet to get or buy the latest list of breached passwords.

2. Cybercriminals develop or buy custom login bots. These bots are capable of automatically attempting to login into multiple user accounts simultaneously on different web services.

3. An automated attack is launched against many websites to check for correct credentials.

4. Hackers monitor for successful logins. Funds, personal information, credit cards, contacts, and other valuable data are then stolen from compromised accounts.

5. Successful logins using stolen credentials are saved for future compromise and as launchpads for phishing attacks.

Preventing Credential Stuffing Attack

1. Use Multi-Factor Authentication(MFA)
Users of online and web services should be mandated to activate MFA to prevent credential stuffing. When MFA is activated, attackers-controlled bots will be blocked from login into target accounts even if they have the correct login credentials.

2. Device Fingerprinting
Device fingerprinting can help your organization block credential stuffing attacks. It involves recording past user sessions. Fingerprints can be created using a combination of users’ device parameters such as OS, browser version, user agent, language, and time zone.

The fingerprint is stored on the server and is checked every time there’s a new attempted login. Using this method, unknown devices are blocked from accessing protected online services.

3. IP Blacklist and Whitelist
You can protect your organization’s online assets by blacklisting problematic IP addresses or allowing selected IPs only. A specific IP address or all addresses belonging to a range of IPs may be blacklisted. If only a few employees are permitted to access your server, you may whitelist their IPs and block every other user.

4. CAPTCHA
One way to slow down or stop automated bots used for credential stuffing is by deploying CAPTCHA engines on the server.
Bots usually fail when confronted with CAPTCHA while genuine users can easily solve them. Hence, attackers are stopped in their tracks.

5. Rate-Limiting Traffic
Traffic to your organization’s endpoints should be restricted depending on the source. Requests from known sources should enjoy free access while traffic from unknown sources should be rate-limited to block requests from malicious automated tools.

6. Disable Email as a User ID
Your organization should disable email as a user ID. All registrations should be done with a separate user ID.

Attackers’ job is much easier if the user ID is the same as email as they are only left with finding matching passwords.

7. Block Automated Browsers
Hackers bypass simple bot filtering systems by using real browsers with no user interface. These automated browsers such as headless browsers can mimic most features of a normal browser. Your servers should be configured to detect and block the activities of these bots.

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Credential stuffing attacks are here to stay. But you can protect yourself and your organization from cybercriminals by following the prevention tips that are discussed above. Always activate full security options for online accounts even if they are optional.

Safeguarding your assets and servers requires the right skills and experience, get in touch with SDTEK to discuss how to protect your business.

Common IT Security Compliance Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

June 17, 2025
Meeting IT security compliance standards is crucial for businesses that handle sensitive data, particularly in industries such as healthcare, finance, defense, and e-commerce. Regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, CMMC, PCI-DSS, and GDPR exist to help ensure businesses protect customer information and maintain robust cybersecurity practices. Unfortunately, many organizations fall short of these requirements, often due to common, avoidable mistakes. These gaps can result in costly fines, data breaches, and reputational damage, which can significantly impact the business's bottom line and customer trust. 1. Failing to Conduct Regular Risk Assessments The Pitfall: Many businesses overlook the importance of conducting routine risk assessments. Without these, it’s challenging to identify vulnerabilities or evaluate whether your current cybersecurity controls meet compliance standards. How to Avoid It: Implement a regular risk assessment schedule. Work with a qualified IT provider to evaluate your systems, identify weaknesses, and document remediation plans. These assessments should be performed at least annually, or whenever significant changes to the system occur. 2. Inadequate Employee Training The Pitfall: Your employees are your first line of defense—and often your most significant vulnerability. A common compliance issue arises when businesses fail to train staff on cybersecurity best practices or on handling sensitive data appropriately. How to Avoid It: Invest in ongoing cybersecurity awareness training. Ensure employees understand how to recognize phishing emails, create strong passwords, and report any suspicious activity. Training should be updated regularly to reflect current threats and compliance requirements. 3. Improper Data Handling and Storage The Pitfall: Storing sensitive data in unsecured locations, failing to encrypt information, or retaining data longer than necessary are significant compliance risks. These practices are often flagged during audits. How to Avoid It: Adopt data classification policies that define how different types of data should be handled; encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit. Establish clear data retention policies and ensure that obsolete data is disposed of securely. 4. Lack of Incident Response Planning The Pitfall: When a security incident occurs, time is of the essence. Many businesses lack a documented incident response plan, or their existing plan hasn’t been thoroughly tested. This can lead to delayed responses, increased damage, and regulatory penalties. How to Avoid It: Develop a formal incident response plan that includes roles, responsibilities, communication protocols, and steps for containment and recovery. Run simulated breach scenarios with your IT team to ensure everyone knows how to respond effectively. 5. Using Outdated Software or Systems The Pitfall: Running outdated operating systems, software, or firmware is a common issue that can lead to compliance failures. Unsupported technologies are more vulnerable to exploitation. How to Avoid It: Keep all systems and applications up to date with the latest patches. Use automated tools to track software versions and receive alerts about end-of-life technologies. Schedule regular maintenance windows to apply updates and upgrades. 6. Insufficient Access Controls The Pitfall: Allowing too many employees access to sensitive data—or failing to revoke access when it’s no longer needed—can lead to data breaches and non-compliance. How to Avoid It: Implement role-based access controls and follow the principle of least privilege. This principle means that each user should have the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job. Regularly audit user accounts and permissions to ensure access is current and appropriate. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an additional layer of protection. 7. Neglecting Third-Party Vendor Risks The Pitfall: Businesses often overlook the fact that their compliance responsibilities extend to third-party vendors. If a vendor mishandles your data, you could still be held accountable. How to Avoid It: Vet third-party vendors carefully. Ensure they meet the same compliance standards as your business and include security requirements in your contracts. Conduct periodic audits or request compliance certifications from your vendors. 8. Failing to Document Policies and Procedures The Pitfall: Even if your security practices are strong, failing to document your compliance policies can result in audit failures. Regulators want to see evidence that you have formal processes in place. How to Avoid It: Create and maintain clear documentation for all compliance-related policies, including data protection, access control, incident response, and employee training. Make these documents easily accessible for audits and regularly review them to ensure updates are current. Conclusion Compliance with IT security standards is not a one-time project—it requires ongoing attention, regular updates, and a proactive approach to maintain effectiveness. By understanding and addressing these common pitfalls, your business can stay ahead of regulatory requirements, strengthen its security posture, and reduce the risk of costly incidents. This ongoing attention is crucial to maintaining your business's security and audit readiness. If you’re unsure whether your business is meeting current IT compliance standards, professional support can help. Contact SDTEK today to schedule a compliance assessment and learn how our IT services can keep your business secure and audit-ready. With our support, you can navigate the complex landscape of IT security compliance with confidence.

Why Cybersecurity and Business IT Support Are Crucial for Fort Wayne Businesses

April 9, 2025
In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you run a small startup or a growing enterprise in Fort Wayne , protecting your business’s data, systems, and clients is essential for long-term success. From ransomware attacks to phishing scams, cyber threats are evolving every day, and the best way to stay ahead of them is by partnering with a reliable IT services provider that understands the unique needs of local businesses. Here’s why investing in professional business IT support is one of the smartest decisions Fort Wayne businesses can make—and how working with SDTEK helps protect your operations, your data, and your reputation.