Prompt: “Guess passwords”

Hackers have always used the latest technologies to make their attacks more effective—and now, of course, they’re using AI. It turns out artificial intelligence has many applications for cybercriminals, from creating personalized phishing messages and advanced malware to, that’s right, guessing people’s passwords.

As a result, instead of trying to hack passwords manually—a process that could take years if they’re even slightly more complex than “123456”—cybercriminals now use AI models to generate highly accurate password predictions based on a target’s online behavior and data. This allows them to launch optimized brute-force attacks, significantly increasing their chances of gaining unauthorized access to company systems and devices.

What our research shows—and what hackers know all too well—is that weak password habits are common across industries. And since most companies still rely on passwords to protect their digital assets, it’s no surprise that cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence to exploit this vulnerability. With AI on their side, they’ve got a better shot at breaking into a company, disrupting its operations, and putting its brand reputation at risk.

How does AI improve password guessing?

It’s simple—AI leaves traditional password-guessing methods in the dust when it comes to both speed and accuracy. Unlike humans, AI isn’t limited by having to type things out on a keyboard. And, unlike traditional brute-force tools, it doesn’t waste time trying every possible combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.

No, AI plays it smart. For instance, it analyzes massive datasets of leaked passwords to find patterns in how people often create passwords, identifying popular formulas like [pet’s name]+[year of birth] or [company name]+123. Some AI tools even gather data from social media or company websites to increase their chances of guessing a password by using employees’ personal information and company-related terms. Not to mention the fact that artificial intelligence also understands all human languages, so it knows what phrases people are more likely to use in their country.

Because of all that, AI doesn’t waste its resources on trying millions of irrelevant combinations—it jumps straight to the most likely guesses. So, if your password is weak and predictable, an AI tool could probably guess it in a matter of minutes.

This is a serious issue for all businesses. Google’s Threat Horizons Report found that over 60% of the breaches it analyzed involved credential issues. Therefore, all companies must enforce a strong password policy before AI-powered password guessers become a major threat to their operations.

The difference between guessing and cracking passwords

Although both fall under the umbrella of “password hacking,” “password guessing” and “password cracking” are two different things. The former describes a trial-and-error process of attempting as many password guesses as possible until one eventually hits the jackpot.

Password cracking, on the other hand, is about decrypting password hashes from a stolen password database. In other words, hackers already have the credential data in their possession, but it’s still protected by encryption. So, they use cracking tools to uncover plaintext passwords.

Who’s most vulnerable to AI password attacks?

While anyone is at risk from AI-powered password guessers, businesses are likely the biggest targets. That’s because companies have a much larger attack surface, and sometimes just one compromised business password can give cybercriminals access to an entire IT ecosystem.

Hackers are also using AI to target corporate platforms to reap bigger profits than they’d get from breaking into individual user accounts. It’s like the saying goes: “The greater the risk, the greater the reward.”

Tips for protecting business passwords from AI

While the threat of AI-powered password guessers may seem daunting, you’re not helpless or without options. There are several strategies and tools that, if implemented correctly, can help protect your business. Here are some of them:

Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Relying only on passwords to protect your company accounts isn’t enough these days. You need extra layers of security so that even if a password is compromised, your systems and data stay safe. That’s where multi-factor authentication comes in.

By setting up MFA on all your company accounts, you ensure that anyone trying to log in will need more than just a password to gain access. As a result, even if an AI-powered password guesser figures out the user’s credentials, hackers still won’t be able to get in.

Don’t reuse passwords

If an employee uses the same password across multiple accounts—both business and personal—they may be doing more harm than they realize. If an AI tool cracks such a password, hackers could break into several company systems at once, making it a nightmare for your IT team to contain the damage. That’s why it’s so important to have a strong password policy that prevents password reuse in your organization.

Educate your team

It’s one thing to ask employees to follow security rules—it’s another to make sure they understand why those rules matter. Investing in cybersecurity training sessions is not only a way to teach your team how to use company systems safely and spot phishing attempts, but it also helps them see the bigger picture behind the risks the company is facing—and how their actions can affect your entire organization. When your employees understand the threat, know what to watch for, and how to respond, you’re much more likely to catch issues early and reduce the chance of human error.

Keep software and devices updated

Most of the tools and systems companies rely on get regular updates to fix bugs and patch up security holes. That’s why it’s really important to make sure all your company’s devices and software stay up to date. Without those updates, you could be leaving vulnerabilities that hackers are just waiting to exploit.

Use a password manager

If your company doesn’t use a password manager yet, getting one should be at the top of your priority list. Why? First of all, a password manager like NordPass allows your employees to generate strong, hard-to-guess passwords for each of their business accounts. It also lets them securely store, manage, autofill, and share those passwords internally with the team. So if you’re concerned about AI-powered password guessers, using a tool like NordPass is one of the best ways to stay ahead.

NordPass also offers additional security features, such as a Data Breach Scanner that informs you if your company’s credentials have been compromised, Password Policy that allows you to enforce strict password rules for all employees, and Email Masking, which hides users’ real business email addresses when signing up for newsletters or online services. With features like these, you’ll have more control over access to your company’s systems—and help protect your business data from threats like AI password guessers.

Bottom line

Hackers are now using AI to guess business passwords based on the targets’ online behavior and data. With this technology, cybercriminals can crack weak passwords in just a few minutes, gaining access to company systems at lightning speed.

To protect themselves, organizations must make sure that all employees use only strong, AI-proof passwords. One way to do this is by investing in tools like password managers (e.g., NordPass) that can generate complex passwords on the spot and securely store each employee’s credentials in encrypted vaults.

First, what is master data management?

Mobile device management falls under master data management (also abbreviated MDM), the process of managing all critical data within the organization. Master data management doesn’t refer to specific software or hardware but rather the entire workflow required to securely handle data assets.

Master data management encompasses all departments working with customer details, product data, and other information deemed critical. The goal is to create one single source of truth, eliminating any fragmented, duplicated, outdated, or otherwise inaccurate information.

Mobile data management contributes to this by supporting the enforcement of privacy policies and compliance-ready data protection for hardware and software. It helps streamline risk management by ensuring each company-owned device follows the exact requirements and uses the same approved apps and tools. Administrators using MDM software can spot irregularities in employee activity more easily and quickly, leading to better response times in the case of an incident.

How does mobile device management work?

MDM security is a core part of the overall cybersecurity infrastructure, simplifying and centralizing processes that would otherwise create challenges for organizations. While it’s particularly beneficial for remote and hybrid teams, mobile device management is crucial for fully in-house organizations, too.

Mobile device management concerns all company-issued devices: desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and phones given to employees with remote access and management software installed. These software components are known as MDM solutions.

One app is rarely enough to cover the entire MDM infrastructure. Some programs are OS-dependent. For instance, Apple offers Apple Business Management (ABM) for its native device management. Others are developed by third-party service providers, granting more flexibility for organizations using a broader device range.

Mobile device management makes it easier for organizations to ensure employee devices are secure and their usage adheres to internal protocol. For instance, a managed device may contain software to connect to the company’s internal network, a remote access app that lets administrators access the device in case of technical issues, a password manager with set security policies, antivirus software, or encrypted file storage.

Using MDM solutions simplifies software updates, allowing administrators to ensure all apps and operating systems are up-to-date and secured from zero-day vulnerabilities. It supports device monitoring, making it easier to spot irregularities and suspicious activity. In case of a security incident, a compromised device can be remotely wiped and locked by the IT team to reduce the risk of data theft and damage.

Mobile device management is beneficial for onboarding and offboarding processes. New employees can receive their hardware with the necessary tools pre-installed and set according to company requirements, while leavers have their data easily wiped from the device, allowing it to be passed along to future employees or be adapted for further personal use.

BYOD and mobile device management

Using a company-issued device is not always mandated. For example, company phones may be limited depending on employee roles or the company’s budgetary requirements. Although computers provided by the employer are a common business practice, in some cases, like with fully remote teams, it may be logistically simpler to have the employee use their personal device for work. In such instances, companies practice BYOD, or “bring your own device.”

The problem with personal device use is the lack of security assurance. Unlike company-issued devices, BYOD practices don’t mandate MDM software to be installed. However, employees may opt for it for security reasons. Since the personal and work-related use overlap, employees may be reluctant to install remote access software to keep their private information protected.

This creates further security risks for employers and employees alike: if a company adheres to BYOD practices and the device in question is stolen, hacked, or otherwise compromised, the cybersecurity team can’t promptly respond to the threat. For instance, they can’t remotely shut off the device or delete its contents. Furthermore, they can’t guarantee that a malicious party won’t misuse work-related data stored on a personal device. Considering the liability involved, it’s strongly recommended for organizations to avoid BYOD practices and opt for company-issued device use instead.

MDM solutions: Are they worth it?

While the benefits of mobile device management are alluring, they can cause some challenges. Here’s what organizations need to know as they set up MDM solutions.

The pros

• Increased security. Mobile device management offers stronger security for employees, particularly those working with sensitive data. Centralized control ensures all devices adhere to the same requirements and employees follow company policies.

• Onboarding and offboarding. Upon joining a workplace with MDM solutions, employees receive devices that are already partially or fully prepared for their duties. Likewise, having access to tools like remote wiping ensures that leavers can’t take sensitive data with them when they part ways with the company.

• Streamlined tech support. If an employee experiences any problems with their work-issued device, an administrator can assist them remotely using mobile device management software. It simplifies problem resolution and reduces some of the burden for the IT team.

• Compliance. Centrally managed devices help ensure stronger compliance with data regulations. They help prevent data loss and fragmentation, and provide access to sensitive information that meets cybersecurity compliance standards.

• App distribution. Organizations may allowlist or denylist select apps based on their data security standards, required permissions, developer reliability, and other criteria. With mobile device management, they can control which apps can be added to the device and which can only be accessed with administrators’ permission.

• Cost savings. By using owned devices that can be passed along to new employees or retained when employees leave, companies can save on hardware and software expenses, utilize business and enterprise resources for security tools, and minimize breach risks thanks to centralized monitoring and management.

The cons

• Initial costs. As a security system, MDM pays off over time. However, the initial setup can be costly: acquiring devices, purchasing licenses, and finding solutions with required scalability can be expensive and time-consuming.

• Connectivity reliance. For mobile device management to work, monitored devices typically require an internet connection. That means if suspicious activity occurs while the device isn’t connected to a network, it may go unseen by administrators.

• Overmonitoring. Broad access to monitoring tools can sometimes sow mistrust in employees, leading to administrators and managers overextending their use to observe employee activity. This can pose the risk of observing sensitive information they otherwise would not have permission to access, and can deepen a lack of trust in a team.

• Implementation complexity. The bigger the organization, the more complex its MDM system is. Once you start adding different devices and operational systems into the mix—make that Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, or any other options—you need tools that cover it all. Some MDM solutions may only be available for certain operating systems, while others may not cover all your bases.

• Forced updates. If the IT admins determine which software can be installed on a managed device, they also maintain the responsibility for updates. To ensure the entire network remains secure, the IT team may force-update all computers at the same scheduled time, leading to frustration from employees whose workflow is interrupted and who may max out the allowed update deferrals.

• Lack of BYOD coverage. If employees use personal devices for work, it’s unlikely that IT administrators will be able to install MDM solutions on them. This makes BYOD devices more susceptible to insecure data management practices and lack of compliance, and blurs the line between personal and work-related device usage.

No MDM solution is likely to be 100% perfect and cater to every business need. The goal is to develop a system that covers all essential bases and keeps both employees and the data they handle secure on their day-to-day. It can take some mixing and matching, testing, and replacing one service with another to find what works best for your business.

Keeping company-owned device data secure with NordPass

Mobile device management solutions can first appear as a complex, expensive maze that encompasses tens or even hundreds of devices, all set to protect your organization’s most sensitive data. However, it doesn’t all have to be so complicated. You can get some of your key security aspects covered with just one tool that’s both budget-friendly and easy to manage.

NordPass is a password manager for businesses that supports flexible security. NordPass allows your organization members to create and store passwords, passkeys, one-time authentication codes, payment details, and other sensitive information in an encrypted vault.

Granular policy controls help ensure strong password policies, secure device usage, additional safety via multi-factor authentication, and external sharing practices. You can adjust required policies to apply to the whole organization, specific teams, or individual employees.

NordPass’ XChaCha20 encryption and zero-knowledge architecture maintain a high level of security and allow credentials to be shared among employees without exposing them to external parties. Employees can limit access to shared credentials to be only autofillable, shareable, or editable, while admins can transfer ownership rights for simplified onboarding and offboarding.

NordPass is available as an extension on all major browsers, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices, making it a flexible option for mobile device management across your organization, whether you’re a small business or an enterprise. All data is backed up and synchronized automatically, ensuring credentials are up-to-date whenever you need them.

Make password management the easiest part of your multi-device management system. Try NordPass today and upgrade the centralized device security standard in your organization.