Info-stealer protection with Sticky Password

The scale of the info-stealer malware problem has become impossible to ignore. A recent headline-grabbing leak involving 16 billion credentials brought this issue sharply into focus. Rather than representing breaches from websites, this incident largely consisted of credentials harvested by info-stealer malware, underscoring how prevalent and dangerous these threats have become in today’s digital landscape.

Info-stealers operate quietly, infecting devices and extracting passwords and other sensitive information, often without users noticing until stolen credentials appear online or are detected by monitoring tools. Users typically encounter info-stealers through phishing, visits to compromised websites or by downloading unverified software.

The first reaction that everyone had upon hearing about this leak was to check their credentials in dark web monitoring tools. Sticky Password has long offered protection against these threats, however, it is important to recognize that often this detection comes too late, after credentials already circulated on dark web. To bridge this gap, we recently enhanced our capabilities with Breach Monitoring—a proactive service designed to swiftly alert users about compromised accounts even before those credentials become visible on the dark web. It’s important to note, though, that Breach Monitoring specifically targets publicly accessible websites and services rather than credentials compromised from individual users via info-stealers.

Proactive prevention remains crucial for password security. Here are several practical steps to strengthen your defenses:

1. Avoid storing passwords directly in browsers. Browsers are prime targets for info-stealer malware, which significantly increases the risk of credential theft.
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication, which adds an essential security layer by storing the second authentication factor separately from your primary password. Even if your password is compromised, attackers can't gain easy access without the second factor.
3. Passkeys also securely store authentication components outside common computing environments, typically on smartphones or specialized hardware. While highly secure, widespread adoption is still limited, leaving password vulnerabilities an ongoing challenge.
4. Using reliable anti-malware solutions is critical for detecting and mitigating threats before they cause harm. However, the rise of AI-driven malware development has intensified risks, as attackers rapidly produce thousands of malware variants capable of evading traditional signature-based detection.
5. Change your passwords regularly to shorten the window of opportunity during which compromised credentials can be exploited. With a password manager, this operation is quick and comfortable.

Most of the steps above are focusing specifically on keeping your credentials outside vulnerable environments. Sticky Password enhances this security strategy with our innovative solution—Contactless Connect.

With Contactless Connect, your passwords are securely stored exclusively on your mobile device, significantly minimizing your exposure to info-stealers:

• You typically install smartphone apps from trusted sources such as Apple's App Store or Google Play, which significantly reduces risks since applications are verified.
• Mobile apps benefit from robust isolation, which means that malicious software, even if installed, is less likely to access sensitive data from other apps.
• Contactless Connect delivers passwords to your computer individually, only when needed, giving you complete control over credential exposure.
• Passwords are never permanently stored on your computer, significantly limiting potential exposure to info-stealers while providing great security.
• Eliminate the inconvenience of repeatedly entering your Master Password across multiple devices.

Proactively secure your credentials, diligently monitor potential leaks, and leverage advanced security solutions like Contactless Connect to stay ahead of cyber threats.

Install Sticky Password on Your Smartphone or Tablet and use Contactless Connect