Why would the average person need a service like Smartpoxy? What is a brute force attack? What does a proxy service have to do with any of this? The average person may not be familiar with these terms. But in a cyber world, it’s akin to not knowing what to do if someone is following you home. Now, let’s start at the beginning.
Brute Force
A brute force attack in the world of cybersecurity can happen in several ways. One common way hackers steal user data is by guessing a user password. They accomplish this by guessing many times using a proxy network, allowing them to try thousands of passwords for just one account. This is one reason why reusing passwords is an especially bad idea.
Users who reuse their passwords make websites and accounts particularly vulnerable to hacking. That is because that password, once leaked, will be tried again on other sites. It is almost inevitable. Other hackers rely on using a dictionary or a wordlist to get a password. Either way, having a username and password is the same as having the key to a locked door. A hacker is a competent thief that will use a key left by a door.
Forgetting to lock the door is another issue. Sometimes, companies leave the door open on accident. In the case of cybersecurity, this could mean a wide variety of things. A software ‘glitch’ that could allow users to access data they shouldn’t be able to access. For example, using a password that is too long might grant a user access to administrative functions.
In another example, we are all familiar with the paywalls on our favorite news sites. Poorly designed websites have allowed some users around paywalls. They only need to click on the right button (ex: the print button). Others access websites or programs traditionally blocked in their own country by using the right VPN or proxy. In short, even regular folks have accidentally ‘hacked’ security features on the internet. Fortunately, the same tools hackers use can be used for good.
Security Challenges
Organizations large and small face cybersecurity challenges. Most pressing to the public is what happens when they unwittingly expose their user data. Put another way, the door was left open. That is exactly what happened with Get Schooled, a philanthropic organization that helps students get into college.
Get Schooled helps low-income students access higher education. They were updating their website when a database with sensitive information was exposed. The personal data from hundreds of thousands of students, including their addresses, phone numbers, and even graduation details, were accessible. Fortunately, the problem was reported. Ostensibly, a white hat or Good Samaritan informed a third-party security company about the issue.
Get Schooled was set up by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in conjunction with Viacom and AT&T. Being associated with Bill Gates might imply security in the cyber world. But that thinking would be incorrect. Just because Microsoft takes its cybersecurity seriously does not mean that all the companies, institutions, or charities associated with them do.
For that matter, cybersecurity can be challenging for everyone, but there are plenty of ways to protect oneself from hackers and other internet pirates. All it takes are the right tools. Fortunately, the right tools for the job are out there and reasonably priced. Smartproxy is one such example.
Proxy services
Most Americans probably leave the setup and curation of their home internet network up to their internet service provider (ISP). But, those who want to take control of their cyber destiny do have options. One option is a proxy service. Like a proxy network for a large firm, having your own proxy services can protect you from roaming hackers who may wish to steal your information. It is entirely possible that your information has already been stolen. But, if you would like to check, the website haveibeenpwned can help you do that.
Has your data been stolen? If so, it is easy enough to protect yourself going forward. Using a residential proxy, you can become less vulnerable to hackers. What is a residential proxy? Just like your physical house, a residential proxy can rotate or mask your IPaddress and change the location a bit to make it look like you are in an entirely different location. It’s almost like an odd cloaking device that makes you anonymous. These proxies make your data harder to find, and therefore, more secure.
Future Security
In the coming years, regular users of the internet are going to have to become savvier about their own security. Hackers use proxy networks, why shouldn’t you use a residential proxy server? Fortunately, they do not have to figure it all out alone. Take some time today to review your security practices, there are great resources to help you. Update your passwords, use stronger passwords, and get a proxy to securely surf the net.