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Hashing turns your password (or any other piece of data) into a short string of letters and/or numbers using an encryption algorithm. If a website is hacked, cyber criminals don't get access to your password. Instead, they just get access to the encrypted “hash” created by your password.
- Is hashing safe for passwords?
- What is password hashing and salting?
- Is hashing a password the same as encryption?
- Can a hashed password be hacked?
Is hashing safe for passwords?
Hashing and encryption both provide ways to keep sensitive data safe. However, in almost all circumstances, passwords should be hashed, NOT encrypted. Hashing is a one-way function (i.e., it is impossible to "decrypt" a hash and obtain the original plaintext value). Hashing is appropriate for password validation.
What is password hashing and salting?
Salt is a cryptographically secure random string that is added to a password before it's hashed, and the salt should be stored with the hash, making it difficult for an attacker to know the original plaintext without having access to both sources.
Is hashing a password the same as encryption?
Hashing is not a type of encryption — it's a form of cryptographic security. Encryption works both ways, while hashing is a one-way function. Hashing boils down the original to a fixed set of characters. This is not the case with encrypted messages.
Can a hashed password be hacked?
Hacking a hashed password
Hashed passwords are a great way to fight off potential hackers, but it doesn't make it impossible for them to gain access. If a system uses a properly designed algorithm to create a hashed password, chances of hacking are extremely low.
