Understanding Password Hashing: A Key Aspect of Cyber Security

In the realm of cyber security, password hashing plays a crucial role in safeguarding sensitive information. Password hashing is a process that converts a plaintext password into a scrambled, fixed-length alphanumeric string. This string, known as a hash, is nearly impossible to reverse-engineer back into the original password.

One of the primary reasons for using password hashing is to protect user passwords in case a database is compromised. When a user creates an account or changes their password, the password is hashed and then stored in the database. During the login process, the entered password is hashed and compared to the stored hashed password for authentication.

Password hashing adds an extra layer of security by making it extremely difficult for cyber attackers to retrieve the actual passwords, even if they gain unauthorized access to the database. Common hashing algorithms include MD5, SHA-1, and bcrypt, with bcrypt being the preferred choice due to its resistance to brute-force attacks.

It's important to note that while password hashing is a fundamental security measure, it is not foolproof. To enhance security further, it is advisable to combine password hashing with other practices such as salting, which involves adding a random string of characters to the password before hashing.