Understanding Salted Passwords in Cyber Security

In the world of cyber security, passwords are one of the primary lines of defense to protect our sensitive information from unauthorized access. However, not all passwords are created equal. One important concept in password security is the use of 'salted passwords'.

A salted password is a password that has been combined with a random value (known as a salt) before being hashed. The addition of this random value makes it much harder for cybercriminals to utilize precomputed tables like rainbow tables to crack passwords.

When a user creates an account on a website or platform, the system takes the password they enter, adds a unique salt to it, and then hashes the combined value. The resulting hash is stored in the system's database. During the login process, the system retrieves the salt associated with the user's account, combines it with the entered password, and then compares the hash with the stored value to authenticate the user.

By using salted passwords, organizations can significantly enhance the security of their users' credentials. Even if two users have the same password, the addition of unique salts ensures that their hashed passwords will be distinct, adding an extra layer of protection.