Lab Write up & Deliverables.
Write a paragraph for the three following questions related to the lab.
1.
What did you learn about the importance of a strong password?
In today's digital age, the importance of a strong password cannot be underestimated. As we increasingly rely on online platforms for communication, financial transactions, and personal data storage, the need to secure our information from hackers becomes vital. A strong password serves as the first line of defense against unauthorized access and potential cyber threats from hackers and any user that is not authorized to use it. Through understanding the significance of creating and maintaining strong passwords, individuals can proactively safeguard their sensitive information and mitigate the risks associated with cyberattacks. 2.
What could be done to improve the strength of the MD5 hash? Why is it
effective?
Salting enhances the security of an MD5 hash by adding a unique, random row of characters before the password is being hashed. The extra string of characters, known as the salt, can be added either before or after the password. The salt is a secret known only to the site
and is effective because it alters the hash of the password when added
before hashing. Salting a password makes it impossible for hackers to use dictionaries or rainbow tables to crack the password. It would require a considerable amount of time to discover the right hash combination.
3.
What is the importance of checking links in potentially fraudulent emails?
It is important of reading carefully first the email to see if the person who is sending the email is who they truly are. In the past I have had friends who didn’t look at the email carefully and just skimmed through
it and then went ahead and clicked the link that was provided by the hackers and they were able to take control of my friend’s whole life basically everything from emails, bank accounts, passwords, social media accounts they had access to it all.
