Xierzugicoz2005: Unpacking the Meaning, Use, and Security Risks

On the outside, the code xierzugicoz2005 appears to be random and could even be used as a username, ID, or some other form of identification. However, as a password, the code can be attacked, and if so, it can be cracked. This essay explains the code and the good and bad aspects about the password so that analyzers can understand how strong a code needs to be to remain unbreakable, and the flaws present in the code  that can be avoided.

First Impressions: A Mix of Obscurity and Predictability

2005 is a year, and years are commonly used in password cracking, and the other component is a word-like string that is in fact a real word and contains alphabetic characters. Now, let us examine xierzugicoz2005 as a code. On the one hand, the password has a good length that is 14 characters long, and the first part of the password 'xierzugicoz' is an obscure word that is 11 characters long and difficult to memorize, so it will be difficult to sass out. 

However, as a code/word, it is flawed. Its obvious use of a year, '2005', gives the assumption that the previous year would be used, but the unknown word and unexplained year used gives the impression of a complex code. However, in reality, in the pattern of most codes, the use of a word and a year is routine when forming a code. All in all, the assumption is conformed to. Based on the common use of a year, '2005', the word-like string, and the code as a simple and complex string, xierzugicoz2005 as a whole, is an average password that is a '2005' word-like string time guessable about '2005' to most people in that time.

Examining Weaknesses of the Password

Typical Password Patterns

The most obvious weakness is the 'word + year' construction. There is an inverse of the combination that most people think of. Most people assume that the combination includes a random set of characters. Hackers use high speed programs that recognize the weaknesses in the structure to try all of the 'word + year' combinations. In addition to the standard dictionary attack, a hacker could use a hybrid dictionary attack with a number set that includes common year patterns like '2005' to efficiently guess the number side of the combination. Given the strength of the number side of the combination, a hacker could reasonably guess 'xierzugicoz' to be a base word and try a number of years, including '2005' as a guess.

Lack of Diversity

The combination contains no diversity whatsoever, as all characters are lower case with no added complexity of upper case characters and symbols (like '!', '@', '#', or '$'). In practice, a user that included base characters, numbers, upper case characters, lower case characters, and a number of symbols would put a exponentially larger complexity on the combination and make it impossible for a hacker to guess. Even the most simple combination of base characters and the number side of the combination would lead to a vastly larger entropic number of combinations.

The Predictable Suffix:

The years in the number side of the combination are predictable. Based on the rest of the construction, a simple '2005' would usually be used, as accounts are typically constructed with a year as the account is created. Significant years such as graduation years or years of birth are also common.

How Easy Would It Be To Break Into The Account With The Name xierzugicoz2005?

Automated software can guess the password protecting an account by running through every possible character combination until the right one is guessed. The time it would take to guess a password is directly related to the length and complexity of the combination.

At first glance, This string looks like a Long password, however, it actually has a lot of weaknesses. Although the password does contain fourteen characters, the only characters it has are lowercase letters and the numbers one through nine. Password cracking software can guess billions of character combinations every single second. Because the password has a chalked up and predictable combination of characters, the software would not have to guess every single possible character. It would only guess the character combinations that contain a word followed by a number. The amount of time it would take to successfully guess the characters 'xierzugicoz2005' would be substantially decreased.

A lot of people are unaware of just how insecure the passwords they input onto the internet are. Extensive research has shown that more than nine out of ten of user made passwords are incredibly insecure. Any password that is simple enough to guess, or contains a combination of characters that is less than eight characters long can be guessed within just a couple of hours. It is true that it does have a large character count, however, its character combination is more predictable than a random set of characters, and that is why it is able to be guessed at a greater risk than accounts with passwords that contain a random character count.

Best Practices for Developing Passwords That Resist Attacks

Examining Xierzugicoz2005 reveals lessons from which we can develop better secure passwords. This is how one can develop secure passwords.

• More variety and complexity (including more mix lower and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols). Passwords should be at least 12-16 characters long). For example, rather than this string, you could use more complex versions, such as X!erZugi-C0z/2o05.
• Do not use patterns and/or heuristic ways (putting in numbers at random to break to word, years that are meaningful to you, sequential numbering, e.g., 1234).
• Randomly generated characters are harder to remember and to crack. One way to develop something is to use a passphrase, which substitutes a harder password but is easier to remember. For instance, correct, horse, battle, and staple could make a passphrase.
• Use a Password Manager To incorporate more complexity to anoverpasswords.
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Even the most uncrackable password can be broken, so having another factor to get into your account is important. This can be a code sent to your phone that nobody else has. This means that someone could get your account password, but they still won’t be able to get into your account.

Final Verdict

Though xierzugicoz2005 seems to be an uncommon password, it’s still weak given that it’s simple and stays within a predictable pattern when making a password. All it takes is a simple repeat to be broken by cybercriminals. Learning to recognize these patterns helps to pick the most complex passwords that are much harder to crack.