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Networking basics, Secure Password Storage

Storing passwords securely is one of the most critical parts of any application that handles user authentication. Weak storage methods can lead to massive data breaches and compromised user accounts. This guide walks through best practices for securely storing passwords.

Step 1: Never Store Plaintext Passwords

Storing passwords as-is in your database is dangerous. If your database is breached, every account is immediately compromised. Instead, passwords should be hashed.

Step 2: Use a Strong Hashing Algorithm

  • Good: bcrypt, scrypt, Argon2 (resistant to brute-force attacks).
  • Bad: MD5, SHA1 (too fast and easily cracked).

Example using bcrypt in C-like pseudocode:

hashed = bcrypt_hash("userPassword123", cost=12);

Step 3: Use Salting

A salt is a random value added to the password before hashing. It prevents attackers from using precomputed hash tables (rainbow tables).

Step 4: Consider Peppering

A pepper is a secret value stored outside the database (like in environment variables). It adds an extra layer of security.

Step 5: Store Only the Hash

In your database, store:

  • Hashed password
  • Salt (if not embedded in the hash format)

Step 6: Use Secure Libraries

Always use well-tested libraries and never implement your own crypto logic from scratch.

Next Steps

Review your current authentication system and upgrade to a secure hash like bcrypt or Argon2. Set policies for password complexity and enforce multi-factor authentication wherever possible.