Russian Experts Pinpoint Most Common Cause of Account Hacks

Password reuse, not sophisticated attacks, fuels one in three breaches, researchers say.

Russian cybersecurity specialists have identified password reuse as the leading factor behind account compromises, with one in three unauthorized access incidents stemming from users recycling the same credentials across services. The findings come courtesy of Izvestia, which cites an analysis by DLBI, a domestic dark‑web monitoring provider that scrutinized recent credential leaks.

According to the DLBI report, the primary sources of data breaches are compromised databases from websites and online services, phishing attacks on counterfeit platforms, and keystroke‑logging malware that intercepts users’ input. Vitaly Fomin, a spokesperson for the League of Digital Economy, told journalists that attackers frequently target password hashes—the unique digital “fingerprints” of credentials—which can be reverse‑engineered with the right computational tools.

To combat this vulnerability, experts advise adopting truly random passwords generated by dedicated services. They also recommend enabling two‑factor authentication and routinely checking account credentials against breach‑monitoring platforms to detect leaks early.

The struggle to memorize dozens of unique passwords remains a key driver of credential reuse, specialists warn. However, this convenience comes at the cost of amplifying risks to personal data and one’s digital identity.

For robust protection, cybersecurity professionals urge users to update passwords regularly, employ reliable password managers, and activate two‑factor authentication wherever available.