CyberGuard dictionary / Fraud & Online Safety
Credential Stuffing
Automated attempts to sign in using username and password pairs stolen from other services.
In simple terms
Attackers try leaked passwords on other websites, hoping people reused them.
Technical explanation
The attack relies on password reuse rather than a flaw in the target site; rate controls and MFA can reduce success.
Automated login attempts test username-password pairs leaked from other services. Defenses combine unique passwords, MFA, rate controls, anomaly detection, and safe account recovery.
Examples in practice
A leaked shopping-site password is tried against the same person’s email account.
A burst of attempts hits many customer accounts with one password each. The service slows suspicious traffic and prompts affected users to replace reused credentials.
Why it matters
Unique passwords prevent one breach from readily opening many accounts.
VERIFY & LEARN MORE
Sources and further reading
Published 2026-10-15 · Last updated 2026-10-15 · CyberGuard editorial content. Source links provide context; they do not imply endorsement.