Common Cryptographic Mistakes

One prevalent mistake involves storing passwords in plain text or using weak hashing algorithms. Despite decades of security guidance, breaches still regularly expose databases full of unhashed passwords. Even when developers use hashing, they often choose outdated algorithms like MD5 or SHA-1, which modern hardware can crack in seconds. It's like using a rusty padlock that any determined thief can break.

Another critical error involves transmitting sensitive data over unencrypted connections. While HTTPS adoption has improved dramatically, many applications still transmit sensitive data over HTTP in certain scenarios—perhaps API calls between internal services, or mobile apps connecting to backend servers. Attackers on the same network can easily intercept this traffic, capturing passwords, session tokens, and personal information. This vulnerability becomes especially dangerous on public WiFi networks where anyone can potentially eavesdrop on communications.