{"id":65599,"date":"2025-10-16T11:54:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T15:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/?p=65599"},"modified":"2026-02-13T08:12:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T13:12:31","slug":"credential-stuffing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/credential-stuffing\/","title":{"rendered":"Credential Stuffing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Cardholders &amp; Merchants Should Know to Prevent Credential Stuffing Attacks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Credential stuffing attacks are a leading cause of data breaches today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A big part of the problem is that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalinformationworld.com\/2022\/03\/around-64-of-passwords-are-recycled.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">64% of people<\/a> tend to use the same password for multiple, if not all, of their accounts.&nbsp;And, the chances for hackers to succeed with credential stuffing are on the rise as more and more stolen credentials become available through data breaches. Right now, there are literally billions of these compromised login details floating around on the dark web.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, it's entirely possible to stop credential stuffing attacks by putting the right cybersecurity strategies in place. Executives should be aware of what credential stuffing entails and what steps can be taken to lower the chances of their organizations falling prey to these attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"c-suggested-reading\"><div class=\"c-suggested-reading__inner\"><div class=\"c-suggested-reading__header\"><h3 class=\"c-suggested-reading__headline\">Recommended reading<\/h3><\/div><ul class=\"c-suggested-reading__items\"><li class=\"c-suggested-reading__item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/business-email-compromise-statistics\/\" class=\"c-suggested-reading__link\">Business Email Compromise: Stats &amp; Financial Impact for <\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-suggested-reading__item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/clone-phishing\/\" class=\"c-suggested-reading__link\">What is Clone Phishing? How Scammers Mimic Trusted Parties<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-suggested-reading__item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/affiliate-fraud-detection\/\" class=\"c-suggested-reading__link\">Affiliate Fraud Detection: 13 Warning Signs to Stop Scammers<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-suggested-reading__item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/how-to-prevent-affiliate-fraud\/\" class=\"c-suggested-reading__link\">How to Prevent Affiliate Fraud: Top Tips for <\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-suggested-reading__item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/prevent-phishing-scams\/\" class=\"c-suggested-reading__link\">Our Top Tips to Prevent Phishing Scams<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-suggested-reading__item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/how-to-identify-phishing-attacks\/\" class=\"c-suggested-reading__link\">Phishing Red Flags: How to Identify Scam Attacks in <\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Credential Stuffing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<dl class=\"definition_box\" class=\"wp-block-cb911-block-library-definitions\"><div class=\"definition\"><div class=\"definition_top\"><h3><dt>Credential Stuffing<\/dt><\/h3><p>[noun]\/kr\u0259 \u2022 dent \u2022 SH\u0259l \u2022 st\u0259f \u2022 iNG\/<\/p><\/div><dd><p>Credential stuffing is a brute force fraud tactic that involves using bots to automatically attempt to enter stolen username and password pairs into a web form. The term \u201ccredential stuffing\u201d refers to the fact that bots can attempt hundreds of sets of login credentials per minute until they find a match.<\/p><\/dd><\/div><\/dl>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Credential stuffing is a type of cyberattack. Hackers use stolen usernames and passwords from one source to gain unauthorized access to accounts at another site. These stolen credentials are often obtained from past data breaches or bought from hidden markets on the internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To illustrate, picture a thief with a massive ring of keys, who is trying to get through a locked door. The thief tries each key to see which one opens the door. Credential stuffing is basically the digital version of this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full full-gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Credential-Stuffing-Animation-F.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65675\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-category-alert c-category-alert--grey\">\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--grey__icon\">\n        <object data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/reminder-hands-04.svg\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" aria-label=\"Finger bullet\"><\/object>\n    <\/span>\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--grey__heading\">Did You Know?<\/span>\n    <p class=\"c-category-alert--grey__description\">Due to the scale and frequency of data breaches, stolen credentials are a dime a dozen. In 2013, for example, state-sponsored cyberattackers leaked the usernames, passwords, birthdays, names, and email addresses associated with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2017\/10\/03\/technology\/yahoo-hack-3-billion-users.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">all three billion Yahoo accounts<\/a>. The breach wasn\u2019t detected until three years later.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Does Credential Stuffing Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-category-alert c-category-alert--teal\">\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--teal__icon\">\n        <object data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Time-Limit-Icon.png\" height=\"20\" aria-label=\"hourglass\"><\/object>\n  <\/span>\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--teal__heading\">TL;DR<\/span>\n    <p class=\"c-category-alert--teal__description\">Attackers use botnets to test thousands or millions of stolen username and password combinations at once. If they find a match, they can gain unauthorized access.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this process, the hacker uses automated programs to rapidly test these stolen login details across numerous websites. This method works because many people reuse their passwords across multiple sites. If the hacker finds a match, they can enter accounts, steal sensitive information, or cause other harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 style=\"color:#b90000\">So, how exactly do they do it? Well, here\u2019s how credential stuffing happens, step by step:<\/h3>\n<div class=\"redborder2\">\n\n<div>\n<h4><span class=\"redletter parap\">Step #1<\/span> <span class=\"yellowline\">|<\/span> <span class=\"blackhead\">Gathering Stolen Information<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The first step for a hacker is to collect lots of usernames and passwords, usually from past security breaches. These stolen details can be bought in bulk on the dark web, in various chat forums or by other means.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div>\n<h4><span class=\"redletter parap\">Step #2<\/span> <span class=\"yellowline\">|<\/span> <span class=\"blackhead\">Preparing the Attack<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Once they have these credentials, hackers organize them, often selecting the most likely to succeed for their attempts. This can be done manually, or credentials can be sorted using an automated process.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div>\n<h4><span class=\"redletter parap\">Step #3<\/span> <span class=\"yellowline\">|<\/span> <span class=\"blackhead\">Automating Login Attempts<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Hackers then use specialized software to automatically enter the stolen usernames and passwords on a wide range of websites. This software can test thousands of logins across multiple sites in a matter of seconds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div>\n<h4><span class=\"redletter parap\">Step #4<\/span> <span class=\"yellowline\">|<\/span> <span class=\"blackhead\">Gaining Unauthorized Access<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>If (or inevitably <em>when<\/em>) the bot finds a login that works, the hacker can then get into that account. They might look for personal information, make unauthorized purchases, or use the account in other harmful ways.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-share-svg c-share-svg--hover\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"c-share-svg__inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<object type=\"image\/svg+xml\" data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Anatomy-of-a-Credential-Stuffing-Attack-F.svg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" class=\"c-share-svg__object c-share-svg__object--desktop\"><\/object>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<object type=\"image\/svg+xml\" data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Anatomy-of-a-Credential-Stuffing-Attack-Mobile-F.svg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" class=\"c-share-svg__object c-share-svg__object--mobile\"><\/object>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"c-share-svg__hover\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"c-share-svg__button js-share-svg-button\" data-source=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Anatomy-of-a-Credential-Stuffing-Attack-F.svg\" data-url=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/credential-stuffing\/\">Embed This Graphic<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After breaking into an account, hackers might use it immediately for malicious purposes, or file away the information and save it to conduct fraud later. They can also sell the access they've gained to others in dark web markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-icon-boxes\">\n\n    <div class=\"c-icon-box c-icon-box--two\">\n        <div class=\"c-icon-box__inner\">\n            <div class=\"c-icon-box__icon\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-Lineal-Icons_DuoTone-Iconz_DuoTone-Iconz-copy-4.svg\" alt=\"Selling Compromised Account Access\"\/>\n            <\/div>\n            <h3 class=\"c-icon-box__title\">Selling Compromised Account Access<\/h3>\n            <p class=\"c-icon-box__copy\">This often targets media streaming services like Disney+, Netflix, and Spotify, where hackers sell access to these accounts for a fraction of the official subscription price.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"c-icon-box c-icon-box--two\">\n        <div class=\"c-icon-box__inner\">\n            <div class=\"c-icon-box__icon\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-ecommerce-cart-internet-shopping-online.svg\" alt=\"eCommerce Fraud\"\/>\n            <\/div>\n            <h3 class=\"c-icon-box__title\">eCommerce Fraud<\/h3>\n            <p class=\"c-icon-box__copy\">Impersonating legitimate users, hackers can place orders for high-value items on retail websites. Retailers are especially prone to this form of attack, making it a lucrative avenue for identity theft<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n     <div class=\"c-icon-box c-icon-box--two\">\n        <div class=\"c-icon-box__inner\">\n            <div class=\"c-icon-box__icon\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-espionage-incognito-imposter.svg\" alt=\"Corporate & Institutional Espionage\"\/>\n            <\/div>\n            <h3 class=\"c-icon-box__title\">Corporate & Institutional Espionage<\/h3>\n            <p class=\"c-icon-box__copy\">If a hacker hijacks an employee or admin account, they can access a wealth of sensitive information, including credit card and social security numbers, which can then be sold<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook c-shortcode-ebook--whitepaper\"><a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/chargeback-field-report\/\" class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__block\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__graphics\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__graphics-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__ipad\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/themes\/CB911\/assets\/img\/shortcodes\/ebooks\/ipad--field-report.png\" alt=\"2022\" chargeback=\"\" field=\"\" report=\"\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__cover\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/themes\/CB911\/assets\/img\/shortcodes\/ebooks\/cover--field-report.png\" alt=\"2022\" chargeback=\"\" field=\"\" report=\"\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__content\"><span class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__title\"><span>A Real-World Look at<\/span> Chargeback Management<\/span><p class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__description\">Based on a survey of over 400 merchants, the report presents a comprehensive, cross-vertical look at the current state of chargebacks and chargeback management.<\/p><span class=\"c-btn c-btn--primary c-shortcode-ebook__btn\">Access the FREE Report<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__close\" data-shortcode-ebook-close=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"currentColor\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M4.293 4.293a1 1 0 011.414 0L10 8.586l4.293-4.293a1 1 0 111.414 1.414L11.414 10l4.293 4.293a1 1 0 01-1.414 1.414L10 11.414l-4.293 4.293a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414L8.586 10 4.293 5.707a1 1 0 010-1.414z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/a><div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__overlay\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why are eCommerce Merchants Targeted for Credential Stuffing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-category-alert c-category-alert--teal\">\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--teal__icon\">\n        <object data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Time-Limit-Icon.png\" height=\"20\" aria-label=\"hourglass\"><\/object>\n  <\/span>\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--teal__heading\">TL;DR<\/span>\n    <p class=\"c-category-alert--teal__description\">eCommerce merchants have large user bases and an abundance of high-value data, so they\u2019re easy to target and lucrative to exploit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Online sellers are prime targets for credential stuffing because they have a treasure trove of valuable customer data, including username and password combinations, <a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/card-numbers\/\">card numbers<\/a>, email addresses, phone numbers, and other personally identifying information (PII).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A credential stuffing attack launched against a single merchant can potentially compromise hundreds or even thousands of accounts, which fraudsters can then <a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/ecommerce-fraud\/account-takeover-fraud\/\">takeover<\/a>, sell, or misappropriate for other attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another unfortunate reason why eCommerce merchants are particularly susceptible to credential stuffing attacks is because they are easy targets. A bad actor located anywhere in the world can potentially aim a carding attack at a seller, making many small-scale eCommerce sellers who lack sufficient <a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/fraud-prevention\/\">fraud prevention tools<\/a> or the security infrastructure to defend themselves particularly vulnerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-shortcode-question c-shortcode-question--inline\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-question__inner\"><span class=\"c-shortcode-question__heading\">Common Question<\/span><span class=\"c-shortcode-question__title\">How can you distinguish between legitimate traffic spikes and attacks?<\/span><span class=\"c-shortcode-question__response\">You can distinguish one from the other by taking a look at your web analytics. While legitimate spikes in web traffic often hail from a number of IP addresses and locations, traffic coming from a single IP address or geolocation can be evidence of a credential stuffing or denial-of-service (DoS) attack.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-category-alert c-category-alert--grey\">\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--grey__icon\">\n        <object data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/reminder-hands-04.svg\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" aria-label=\"Finger bullet\"><\/object>\n    <\/span>\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--grey__heading\">Did You Know?<\/span>\n    <p class=\"c-category-alert--grey__description\">Only about 0.1% of credential pairs will work; that\u2019s just one in every 1,000 credential stuffing attempts. Bots can carry out these attacks super fast, though. Even with a 0.1% success rate, that\u2019s still thousands of compromised accounts per attack.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Real-Word Examples of Credential Stuffing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Credential stuffing attacks have become so routine that there's actually a going rate for hacked accounts; a kind of twisted online marketplace, based around supply and demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The price tag on these stolen accounts depends on how much they're worth. So, credentials for financial accounts (banks, PayPal, Western Union, etc.) might sell for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privacyaffairs.com\/dark-web-price-index-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">anywhere from $30 to $120<\/a>. Plus, hackers are coming up with new ways to break into systems every day, and it seems like each attacker is more clever than the last.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are a few recent, real-world stories that illustrate just how big a problem this can be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"p-newspaper\">\n<div class=\"p-newspaper__logo\"><object id=\"js-animated-logo\" type=\"image\/svg+xml\" data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/themes\/CB911\/assets\/img\/logos\/animated-logo-v2.svg\"><\/object><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"p-newspaper-block\" id=\"firstNewspaperColumn\">\n        \n        <div class=\"p-newspaper-block__content\">\n\n<h3 class=\"p-newspaper-block__title p-newspaper-block__title--center\">New York Attorney General<\/h3>\n            <p class=\"p-newspaper-block__description\">The office of the New York Attorney General <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/searchsecurity\/news\/252511640\/NY-AGs-credential-stuffing-probe-finds-1M-exposed-accounts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">uncovered one million exposed accounts<\/a> in a 2022 credential stuffing probe, involving credentials for customer accounts at 17 well-known companies. Targeted sectors included online retailers, restaurant chains, and food delivery services.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"p-newspaper-img\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/NYOAG_raidforums.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-bGlnaHRib3gtaW1hZ2UtMA==\" data-magnific_type=\"image\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Credential-Stuffing-screenshot-raidforums-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A screenshot of an apparent post from dark web marketplace RaidForums, where a user was selling valid customer credentials<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n            <h3 class=\"p-newspaper-block__title p-newspaper-block__title--center\">Canada Revenue<br \/>& GCKey<\/h3>\n            <p class=\"p-newspaper-block__description\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aa.com.tr\/en\/americas\/hackers-gain-access-to-canadian-government-accounts\/1945027\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">According to CBC Canada<\/a>, the Canada Revenue Agency found out that, out of about 12 million GCKey accounts, 9,041 were hacked using credential stuffing. They had to shut down their online services for a bit to deal with it.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"p-newspaper-block\">\n        \n        <div class=\"p-newspaper-block__content\">\n\n<h3 class=\"p-newspaper-block__title p-newspaper-block__title--center\">PayPal<\/h3>\n            <p class=\"p-newspaper-block__description\">A recent PayPal breach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2023\/01\/21\/no-paypal-hasnt-been-hacked-yet-almost-35000-accounts-were-breached\/?sh=1b91f7203ea7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">impacted 35,000 accounts<\/a>. The company has thus far not identified any unauthorized transactions. However, it was reported that the attack may have been carried out to use those thousands of compromised accounts in other schemes.<\/p>\n\n            <h3 class=\"p-newspaper-block__title p-newspaper-block__title--center\">US Banks<\/h3>\n            <p class=\"p-newspaper-block__description\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zdnet.com\/article\/fbi-says-credential-stuffing-attacks-are-behind-some-recent-bank-hacks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ZDNet shared<\/a> info from an FBI warning that said hackers used stolen login info to make fake check withdrawals and electronic transfers from a US bank between January and August 2020. They managed to steal more than $3.5 million in this attack.<\/p>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Credential-Stuffing-FBI-Rubber-Stamp-2.png\" class=\"p-newspaper-stamp\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>    \n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are some high-profile cases, but small-scale attacks happen every day. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/1007470\/stolen-credentials-dark-web-market-price\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Retail accounts are hot items<\/a>, for instance. Someone might pay around $30 for access to a compromised Amazon account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Social media accounts are in demand, too. They can be used for all sorts of shady activity, from fake promotion campaigns (called \u201castroturfing\u201d) to tricking someone's contacts into downloading harmful software. Prices vary by platform: a Facebook account might go for $65, Instagram for $45, and Gmail for a solid $80.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-custom-cta c-custom-cta--red\">\n    <div class=\"c-custom-cta__inner\">\n        \n        <div class=\"c-custom-cta__content\">\n            <h4 class=\"c-custom-cta__title\">If you operate an online business, you\u2019re vulnerable to credential stuffing attacks.<\/h4>\n            <p class=\"c-custom-cta__description\">Learn how to keep your business safe.<\/p>\n            <a class=\"c-btn c-btn--primary c-custom-cta__btn\" data-open-demo-modal>Request a Demo<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"c-custom-cta__graphics\">\n            <div class=\"c-custom-cta__graphics-inner\">\n                <div class=\"c-custom-cta__image\">\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/themes\/CB911\/assets\/img\/shortcodes\/cta\/cta--revenue-recovered.png\" alt=\"The Original End-to-End Chargeback Management Platform\"\/>\n                            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Credential Stuffing Actually Costs Merchants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-category-alert c-category-alert--teal\">\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--teal__icon\">\n        <object data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Time-Limit-Icon.png\" height=\"20\" aria-label=\"hourglass\"><\/object>\n  <\/span>\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--teal__heading\">TL;DR<\/span>\n    <p class=\"c-category-alert--teal__description\">In addition to the immediate consequences, credential stuffing also casts a long shadow that can up your chargeback costs, overwhelm your customer service team, and cost you sales by slowing down your website. Sellers may also face muddied analytics data or reputational harm.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Credential stuffing attacks are both common and costly. While there\u2019s been a lot of ink spilled regarding how data exposure impacts individuals, we should also spotlight the potential exposure for banks and eCommerce merchants:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"p-red-stats\">\n   <div class=\"p-red-stat\">\n      <div class=\"p-red-stat__number\">\n        <div class=\"p-red-stat__main\">$4.81<\/div>\n        <div class=\"p-red-stat__subtitle\">Million<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"p-red-stat__description\">\n         <p>Cost of an average credential stuffing attack<\/p>\n         <p class=\"p-red-stat__source\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humansecurity.com\/learn\/blog\/credential-stuffing-and-account-takeover-attacks-remain-nagging-business-problems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Human Security<\/a><\/p>\n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n\n   <div class=\"p-red-stat\">\n        <div class=\"p-red-stat__number\">\n            <div class=\"p-red-stat__main\">15<\/div>\n            <div class=\"p-red-stat__subtitle\">Billion<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"p-red-stat__description\">\n            <p>Number of stolen credentials circulating on the internet at any given time<\/p>\n         <p class=\"p-red-stat__source\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/ag.ny.gov\/publications\/business-guide-credential-stuffing-attacks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York State Attorney General<\/a><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n\n   <div class=\"p-red-stat\">\n        <div class=\"p-red-stat__number\">\n            <div class=\"p-red-stat__main\">$1<\/div>\n            <div class=\"p-red-stat__subtitle\">Billion<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"p-red-stat__description\">\n            <p>Average number of credential stuffing attacks per day<\/p>\n         <p class=\"p-red-stat__source\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.akamai.com\/blog\/trends\/keeping-up-with-the-botnets#:~:text=The%202021%20Akamai%20State%20of,day%20(see%20chart%20below).\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Akami<\/a><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"p-red-stat\">\n        <div class=\"p-red-stat__number\">\n            <div class=\"p-red-stat__main\">16<\/div>\n            <div class=\"p-red-stat__subtitle\">Billion<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"p-red-stat__description\">\n            <p>Records involved in the world\u2019s largest credential stuffing attack, discovered in June 2025<\/p>\n         <p class=\"p-red-stat__source\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blackfog.com\/worlds-largest-credential-leak-hits-16-billion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BlackFog<\/a><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"p-red-stat\">\n        <div class=\"p-red-stat__number\">\n            <div class=\"p-red-stat__main\">52%<\/div>\n            <div class=\"p-red-stat__subtitle\">percent<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"p-red-stat__description\">\n            <p>of login attempts that include leaked passwords<\/p>\n         <p class=\"p-red-stat__source\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.cloudflare.com\/password-reuse-rampant-half-user-logins-compromised\/#:~:text=Our%20data%20reveals%20that%2052%25%20of%20all,I%20Been%20Pwned%20(HIBP)%20leaked%20password%20dataset.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cloudflare<\/a><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-icon-list\">\n<div class=\"c-icon-list__item\"><div class=\"c-icon-list__icon\"><object data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-money-in-hand.svg\" type=\"image\/svg+xml\"><\/object><\/div><div class=\"c-icon-list__content\"><h3 class=\"c-icon-list__title\">Higher Chargeback Costs<\/h3><div class=\"c-icon-list__text\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a credential stuffing attacker gains unauthorized access to a large number of compromised accounts, they can precipitate a surge in fraudulent transactions. As a result, <a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/chargeback-ratio\/\">your chargeback ratio<\/a> could dramatically increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If this ratio exceeds certain thresholds set by card networks like Visa and Mastercard, you risk being placed in a <a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/merchant-monitoring-programs\/\">merchant monitoring program<\/a>. These programs come with steep monthly penalties, intensified scrutiny and, in the worst-case scenario, the <a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/terminated-processing-agreement-and-closed-merchant-account\/\">termination of your merchant account<\/a>, effectively cutting you off from accepting credit card payments.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-icon-list__item\"><div class=\"c-icon-list__icon\"><object data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-phone-calls-decline-customer-support.svg\" type=\"image\/svg+xml\"><\/object><\/div><div class=\"c-icon-list__content\"><h3 class=\"c-icon-list__title\">Overwhelmed Customer Service<\/h3><div class=\"c-icon-list__text\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Credential stuffing attacks also hit your frontline support team. Your customer service channels could be flooded with calls and emails from two types of victims: legitimate customers who are locked out of their accounts and those who have discovered fraudulent orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Without adequate preparation, this sudden influx of high-stress inquiries could result in longer wait times for all customers, employee burnout, or even the need for expensive, temporary staffing to manage the crisis.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-icon-list__item\"><div class=\"c-icon-list__icon\"><object data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-Lineal-Icons-July2022-Update-239.svg\" type=\"image\/svg+xml\"><\/object><\/div><div class=\"c-icon-list__content\"><h3 class=\"c-icon-list__title\">Website Slowdown<\/h3><div class=\"c-icon-list__text\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sheer volume of automated login attempts during a credential stuffing attack can put an immense strain on your website\u2019s servers. This often results in significant performance degradation, like slow page loads and checkout errors, long before your site crashes completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Legitimate customers trying to make checkout during one of these sitewide \u201cbrownouts\u201d could become frustrated by the poor experience and abandon their carts, resulting in lost sales that are difficult to track, yet nonetheless attributable to the attack.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-icon-list__item\"><div class=\"c-icon-list__icon\"><object data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-Lineal-Icons-July2022-Update_DuoTone-Iconz-241.svg\" type=\"image\/svg+xml\"><\/object><\/div><div class=\"c-icon-list__content\"><h3 class=\"c-icon-list__title\">Corrupted Analytics Data<\/h3><div class=\"c-icon-list__text\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Credential stuffing attacks can create a massive amount of noise in your analytics. Because bot-driven traffic inflates metrics like user sessions, page views, and login attempts, it becomes much more difficult to get a clear picture of genuine customer behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These muddled <a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/chargeback-stats\/\">stats<\/a> could lead to strategic blunders. For example, if fake traffic is misinterpreted as a successful campaign, you may inadvertently make ad spend decisions based on corrupted data, resulting in wasted spend on phantom engagement.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-icon-list__item\"><div class=\"c-icon-list__icon\"><object data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-Identity-fraud.svg\" type=\"image\/svg+xml\"><\/object><\/div><div class=\"c-icon-list__content\"><h3 class=\"c-icon-list__title\">Brand Erosion &amp; Customer Churn<\/h3><div class=\"c-icon-list__text\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Customers whose accounts are compromised on your site often don\u2019t differentiate between where their password was stolen and where it was used. Even if you weren\u2019t originally at fault, their perception was that you failed to protect them; a perceived breach of trust that can be devastating and permanent for your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to closing their wallets, these former customers may be inclined to share negative feedback with friends and on social media. This negative word-of-mouth could in turn tarnish your reputation for years to come.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much are You Losing to Credential Stuffing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like we outlined above, the cost of a single fraud attack extends far beyond just the revenue from the sale in question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s say a scammer conducts a credential stuffing attack and manages to successfully compromise a customer\u2019s account and conduct a fraudulent purchase. Every time that happens, you\u2019re going to get hit with a chargeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These costs are gonna snowball over time. Use the calculator below to examine your overall exposure:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"c-cost-calculator\"><div class=\"c-cost-calculator__inner\"><h2 class=\"c-cost-calculator__heading\">What are Chargebacks <strong>REALLY<\/strong> Costing You?<\/h2><div class=\"c-cost-calculator__field\" id=\"cb_per_month\"><label class=\"c-cost-calculator__label\">Avg. Number of Chargebacks Per Month:<\/label><div class=\"slider-wrapper\"><div class=\"c-calc-slider\"><div class=\"c-calc-slider__handle ui-slider-handle\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"c-cost-calculator__field\" id=\"cost_per_cb\"><label class=\"c-cost-calculator__label\">Avg. Transaction Value:<\/label><div class=\"slider-wrapper\"><div class=\"c-calc-slider\" data-type=\"dollars\"><div class=\"c-calc-slider__handle ui-slider-handle\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"c-cost-calculator__submit-wrapper\"><input class=\"c-cost-calculator__input c-cost-calculator__input--submit not-active js-signup-button\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Calculate ROI\" data-open-demo-modal data-roi-calculator-button id=\"cb_calc_modal_btn\"\/><\/div><div class=\"c-cta-arrow\" id=\"cb_calc_cta_arrow\"><\/div><div class=\"s-calc-output js-waterfall-fade\"><div class=\"s-calc-output__inner\"><h3 class=\"js-waterfall-fade\" id=\"revenue_lost\">Annual Revenue Lost:<span class=\"s-calc-output__number\"><\/span><\/h3><h4 class=\"js-waterfall-fade\" id=\"chargeback_fees\">+ Chargeback Fees:<span class=\"s-calc-output__number\"><\/span><\/h4><h4 class=\"js-waterfall-fade\" id=\"admin_fees\">+ Admin Fees:<span class=\"s-calc-output__number\"><\/span><\/h4><h4 class=\"js-waterfall-fade\" id=\"goods_shipping\">+ Cost of Goods & Shipping:<span class=\"s-calc-output__number\"><\/span><\/h4><hr \/><h2 class=\"js-waterfall-fade\" id=\"total_chargeback_cost\">Total Annual Chargeback Cost:<span class=\"s-calc-output__number\" id=\"js_total_chargeback_cost\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cRed Flags\u201d of Credential Stuffing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-category-alert c-category-alert--teal\">\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--teal__icon\">\n        <object data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Time-Limit-Icon.png\" height=\"20\" aria-label=\"hourglass\"><\/object>\n  <\/span>\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--teal__heading\">TL;DR<\/span>\n    <p class=\"c-category-alert--teal__description\">Credential stuffing \u201cred flags\u201d include customer complaints, repeated account lockouts, unauthorized account activity, and a large volume of login attempts from a single IP address.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are some clear warning signs for which everyone should be on the lookout here. Catching these hints early can really save a lot of trouble for businesses and their customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-cb911-block-library-checklists c-checklist c-checklist--style-4 c-checklist--color-red\"><li class=\"c-checklist__item\"><strong>Weird Login Attempts: <\/strong>Getting messages about someone trying to log in or reset passwords, despite not having actually done this.<\/li><li class=\"c-checklist__item\"><strong>Repeated Account Locks: <\/strong>If an account keeps getting locked because of too many login attempts, it may be someone repeatedly testing multiple passwords.<\/li><li class=\"c-checklist__item\"><strong>Strange Account Activity: <\/strong>Orders or credential changes that no authorized user made.<\/li><li class=\"c-checklist__item\"><strong>Failed Logins: <\/strong>Getting a bunch of notices about login attempts from places or devices you don't recognize.<\/li><li class=\"c-checklist__item\"><strong>New Device or Location Warnings:<\/strong> Alerts about new devices in unusual locations accessing the account.<\/li><li class=\"c-checklist__item\"><strong>Unexpected Emails or Messages:<\/strong> Receiving emails or messages regarding activity that no authorized user recognizes.<\/li><li class=\"c-checklist__item\"><strong>Lots of Logins Attempts from One Place:<\/strong> Seeing many login tries, using different credentials, all from just one IP address.<\/li><li class=\"c-checklist__item\"><strong>Customers Complaints:<\/strong> Customers reporting weird account activity or lock outs might mean a widespread attack on many accounts.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spotting these signs early can help prevent bad actors from doing serious damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Businesses can use tools to watch for odd login patterns or set up challenges like CAPTCHAs to stop automated hacking attempts. Users can also make it tougher for hackers by using different passwords for different sites and turning on extra security steps, like getting a code on your phone whenever possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook c-shortcode-ebook--book\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ad.chargebacks911.com\/chargebacks-for-dummies\" class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__block\" target=\"_blank\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__graphics\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__graphics-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__book\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/themes\/CB911\/assets\/img\/shortcodes\/ebooks\/book--dummies.png\" alt=\"Chargebacks\" for=\"\" dummies=\"\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__content\"><span class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__title\"><span>Everything You Need To Know<\/span> A Beginner\u2019s Guide to Chargebacks<\/span><p class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__description\">Chargebacks can wreak havoc on your cash flow and profitability. This FREE paperback book is your guide for preventing chargebacks and, when they happen, fighting them more effectively.<\/p><span class=\"c-btn c-btn--primary c-shortcode-ebook__btn\">Send Me My Free Paperback Book!<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__close\" data-shortcode-ebook-close=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"currentColor\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M4.293 4.293a1 1 0 011.414 0L10 8.586l4.293-4.293a1 1 0 111.414 1.414L11.414 10l4.293 4.293a1 1 0 01-1.414 1.414L10 11.414l-4.293 4.293a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414L8.586 10 4.293 5.707a1 1 0 010-1.414z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/a><div class=\"c-shortcode-ebook__overlay\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Responding to Credential Stuffing Attacks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-category-alert c-category-alert--teal\">\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--teal__icon\">\n        <object data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Time-Limit-Icon.png\" height=\"20\" aria-label=\"hourglass\"><\/object>\n  <\/span>\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--teal__heading\">TL;DR<\/span>\n    <p class=\"c-category-alert--teal__description\">On day one of a credential stuffing attack, focus on stopping the bleed by blocking IPs and forcing password resets. You can then shift to identifying root causes and patterns, communicating with customers, and exploring security upgrades.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you <em>already <\/em>experienced a credential stuffing attack, how can you respond? The answer is that your actions should look different depending on how far out you are from the attack. Below, I\u2019ve outlined a credential stuffing response roadmap you can follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-iconheading\">\n    <div class=\"c-iconheading__icon\">\n         <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-Calendar-date.svg\" alt=\"Calendar Icon\"\/>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div>\n        <h3>\n<span style=\"color:var(--color-primary);\">Day One<\/span> \n<span style=\"color:var(--color-secondary-yellow);\"> &nbsp;|&nbsp; <\/span>\n Triage & Control\n<\/h3>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the first first 24 hours, you should be focused on containing the threat and regaining control. Don\u2019t worry about root causes at this point. Instead, focus on protecting your customers and your platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To start, your technical team should work to identify the IP addresses and regions originating the attack, so that you can implement blocks to stop it. While the attackers may use a VPN to switch IPs, this initial step can provide some temporary relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, initiate a forced password reset for <em>all<\/em> user accounts; not just the ones you suspect are compromised. This step can invalidate any stolen credentials currently being used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, prepare your customer service team with a clear, concise script they can use to explain the situation. Inform them that a security event has occurred. Explain that your customers\u2019 accounts are safe, but you\u2019re taking proactive steps to protect all accounts, and that a password reset is required. Avoid technical jargon and focus instead on reassuring your customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-iconheading\">\n    <div class=\"c-iconheading__icon\">\n         <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-Calendar-date.svg\" alt=\"Calendar Icon\"\/>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div>\n        <h3>\n<span style=\"color:var(--color-primary);\">Week One<\/span> \n<span style=\"color:var(--color-secondary-yellow);\"> &nbsp;|&nbsp; <\/span>\n Fortification & Forensics\n<\/h3>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that the immediate threat is contained, you can turn your focus towards strengthening your defenses and understanding the scope of the attack. During the first week, analyze what happened and begin implementing improved solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Begin by analyzing server logs to determine the full scale of the attack. How many accounts were targeted, how many were successfully breached, and what actions did the attackers take?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, look for patterns in the fraudulent orders. Were they all shipped to a specific region? Did they all <a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/glossary\/method-of-payment\/\">use a particular payment method<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Answers to these questions can help you identify and potentially <a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/payment-reversal\/\">reverse fraudulent payments<\/a> before a chargeback happens. At this point, you can also move to rate limit logins, which restricts the number of login attempts from a single IP address in a given timeframe. While simple, this defense can immediately defeat the brute-force nature of credential stuffing attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, communicate in more detail with your customers about what happened. Publish a blog post and video that talks about what you\u2019ve done to fix the problem, and what they can do to protect their accounts in the future. For example, by using unique passwords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-iconheading\">\n    <div class=\"c-iconheading__icon\">\n         <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-Calendar-date.svg\" alt=\"Calendar Icon\"\/>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div>\n        <h3>\n<span style=\"color:var(--color-primary);\">Month One<\/span> \n<span style=\"color:var(--color-secondary-yellow);\"> &nbsp;|&nbsp; <\/span>\n Defense Hardening & Policy Changes\n<\/h3>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the end of the first month, your focus should shift from reactive defense to proactive security and long-term policy changes. At this stage, your goal is to rebuild customer trust and make your eCommerce store an unattractive target for future attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The top priority is to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA). While it adds a small amount of friction to the login process, it is one of the single most effective defenses against credential stuffing. Offer multiple second-factor options, including SMS codes, authenticator apps, or email verification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You should also conduct a thorough review of your entire security posture. Are there other vulnerabilities? Is your software up to date? Consider engaging a third-party security firm to perform a penetration test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, use this event as an opportunity to educate your customers about account security. Create a permanent, easily accessible resource on your site about creating strong passwords, <a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/phishing\/\">recognizing phishing attempts<\/a>, and the benefits of MFA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Prevent Credential Stuffing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-category-alert c-category-alert--teal\">\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--teal__icon\">\n        <object data=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Time-Limit-Icon.png\" height=\"20\" aria-label=\"hourglass\"><\/object>\n  <\/span>\n    <span class=\"c-category-alert--teal__heading\">TL;DR<\/span>\n    <p class=\"c-category-alert--teal__description\">Strong passwords, biometrics, behavioral analytics, CAPTCHA challenges, rate limiting, traffic blocks, and customer education can help merchants prevent credential stuffing attacks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Credential stuffing is a persistent threat, especially for eCommerce merchants. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.okta.com\/resources\/whitepaper-the-state-of-secure-identity-report\/thankyou\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">According to Okta<\/a>, 51.3% of credential stuffing or carding attacks involved online retailers in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Given the prevalence of this scam, how can you protect yourself as an online seller? Here are some tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"p-article-block__horizontally-stacked-boxes\">\n    \n    <div class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box\">\n            <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__icon\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-merchant-shop-secured-protected.svg\" alt=\"Tip for Business\"\/>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__content\">\n                <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__description\"><strong>Enforce Strong Password Policies:<\/strong> Encourage your customers to use strong passwords by requiring a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters. You can also require them to change passwords regularly.<\/span>\n            <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box\">\n        <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__icon\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-merchant-shop-secured-protected.svg\" alt=\"Tip for Business\"\/>\n        <\/span>\n        <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__content\">\n            <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__description\"><strong>Educate Your Customers:<\/strong> Share tips and best practices for creating strong passwords and the dangers of reusing passwords. You could do this through emails, pop-up tips on your website, and social media posts.<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box\">\n        <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__icon\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-merchant-shop-secured-protected.svg\" alt=\"Tip for Business\"\/>\n        <\/span>\n        <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__content\">\n            <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__description\"><strong>Adopt Advanced Security Measures:<\/strong> Consider using <a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/biometric-payments\/\">biometrics<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/behavioral-fraud-detection\/\">behavioral analytics<\/a> (looking at how a user typically behaves). These can add another layer of security that's hard for hackers to fake.<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box\">\n            <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__icon\">\n                   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-merchant-shop-secured-protected.svg\" alt=\"Tip for Business\"\/>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__content\">\n                <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__description\"><strong>Monitor for Suspicious Activity:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/fraud-detection-software\/\">Use security software<\/a> to keep an eye out for suspicious activity, like a ton of login attempts in a short time coming from the same place, or users trying lots of different usernames and passwords.<\/span>\n            <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box\">\n            <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__icon\">\n                   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-merchant-shop-secured-protected.svg\" alt=\"Tip for Business\"\/>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__content\">\n                <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__description\"><strong>Challenge Suspicious Logins:<\/strong> Implement CAPTCHA challenges for login attempts that seem automated. It's a simple way to weed out bots since they usually can't solve CAPTCHAs like a human can.<\/span>\n            <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box\">\n            <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__icon\">\n                   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-merchant-shop-secured-protected.svg\" alt=\"Tip for Business\"\/>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__content\">\n                <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__description\"><strong>Limit Login Attempts:<\/strong> By locking an account or slowing down login attempts after a few failures, you make it way harder for automated tools to guess passwords by trial and error.<\/span>\n            <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box\">\n            <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__icon\">\n                   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/NEW-ICONS-DuoTone-merchant-shop-secured-protected.svg\" alt=\"Tip for Business\"\/>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__content\">\n                <span class=\"p-horizontally-stacked-box__description\"><strong>Block Sketchy Traffic:<\/strong> If you notice a lot of malicious attempts coming from certain places, you can block those IP addresses. It's not a perfect solution since IPs can be masked or changed, but it can cut down on a lot of unwanted traffic.\n<\/span>\n            <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Have Additional Questions?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember: even when fraud attacks do occur, consumers have some protection in the form of credit card <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/chargebacks\/\" title=\"Chargebacks 101\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1463\">chargebacks<\/a>. This means the bank can reverse suspect transactions and re-credit the customer's account.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s good news for cardholders\u2026 but not so much for merchants, who end up bearing the financial burden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thankfully, help is available. Chargebacks911\u00ae offers a comprehensive solution to help you protect your business and keep your chargeback ratio low. Don't let chargebacks undermine your success. Take action today to secure your operations and reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-shortcode-faq\" data-shortcode-faq=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cb911-block-library-faq\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__inner\"><h2 class=\"c-shortcode-faq__heading joli-heading\" id=\"faqs\">FAQs<\/h2><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__items\">\n\n<div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__item\" data-shortcode-faq-item=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cb911-block-library-faq-item\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__item-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icons\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icons-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icon c-shortcode-faq__icon--minus\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M20 12H4\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icon c-shortcode-faq__icon--plus\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M20 12H4\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/div><h3 class=\"c-shortcode-faq__question\">What is the difference between credential stuffing and password spraying?<\/h3><p class=\"c-shortcode-faq__answer\">Credential stuffing attacks use stolen account credentials (usernames and passwords) obtained from previous data breaches to attempt to log into other websites or services.<br \/><br \/>Password spraying, on the other hand, takes a different approach. Instead of using a list of known password combinations, attackers select a common password (such as \"Password123\" or \"Spring2020\") and attempt to log in to many different accounts with it. This method relies on the statistical likelihood that at least some users will have chosen weak or commonly used passwords.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__item\" data-shortcode-faq-item=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cb911-block-library-faq-item\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__item-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icons\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icons-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icon c-shortcode-faq__icon--minus\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M20 12H4\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icon c-shortcode-faq__icon--plus\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M20 12H4\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/div><h3 class=\"c-shortcode-faq__question\">What is the best solution to credential stuffing?<\/h3><p class=\"c-shortcode-faq__answer\">To prevent credential stuffing, implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all user accounts. This will add a critical second layer of security. Also, educate users on the importance of using unique passwords for each account to reduce the risk of successful attacks.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__item\" data-shortcode-faq-item=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cb911-block-library-faq-item\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__item-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icons\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icons-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icon c-shortcode-faq__icon--minus\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M20 12H4\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icon c-shortcode-faq__icon--plus\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M20 12H4\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/div><h3 class=\"c-shortcode-faq__question\">What is an example of credential stuffing? <\/h3><p class=\"c-shortcode-faq__answer\">Let\u2019s say a hacker obtains a list of usernames and passwords from a data breach at one company, then uses automated software to try those credentials on a banking website, successfully accessing several user accounts. This unauthorized access allows the hacker to transfer funds and gather personal information from the compromised accounts.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__item\" data-shortcode-faq-item=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cb911-block-library-faq-item\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__item-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icons\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icons-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icon c-shortcode-faq__icon--minus\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M20 12H4\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icon c-shortcode-faq__icon--plus\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M20 12H4\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/div><h3 class=\"c-shortcode-faq__question\">How does credential stuffing impact a user?<\/h3><p class=\"c-shortcode-faq__answer\">Credential stuffing can lead to unauthorized access to users' accounts across multiple platforms, resulting in identity theft, financial loss, and personal data compromise. The user may also face the cumbersome process of securing compromised accounts and recovering stolen assets.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__item\" data-shortcode-faq-item=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cb911-block-library-faq-item\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__item-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icons\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icons-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icon c-shortcode-faq__icon--minus\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M20 12H4\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icon c-shortcode-faq__icon--plus\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M20 12H4\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/div><h3 class=\"c-shortcode-faq__question\">What is the difference between brute force and credential stuffing?<\/h3><p class=\"c-shortcode-faq__answer\">Credential stuffing is actually a specific type of brute force attack.<br \/><br \/>Brute force attacks attempt to gain access by systematically trying every possible password combination until the correct one is found, without relying on previously stolen data. Credential stuffing, specifically, involves using previously stolen username and password combinations to gain unauthorized access to user accounts across various services, exploiting the common practice of password reuse.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__item\" data-shortcode-faq-item=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cb911-block-library-faq-item\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__item-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icons\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icons-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icon c-shortcode-faq__icon--minus\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M20 12H4\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icon c-shortcode-faq__icon--plus\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M20 12H4\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/div><h3 class=\"c-shortcode-faq__question\">How do you detect credential stuffing?<\/h3><p class=\"c-shortcode-faq__answer\">eCommerce merchants can detect credential stuffing through a combination of fraud detection tools, including velocity checks, device fingerprinting tools, bot monitoring tools, and machine learning-based anomaly detection systems. When used in conjunction with each other, these systems can spot spikes in login attempts, suspicious login patterns, bot traffic, and unusual geolocation data, which are signs that a credential stuffing attack may be imminent.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__item\" data-shortcode-faq-item=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cb911-block-library-faq-item\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__item-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icons\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icons-inner\"><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icon c-shortcode-faq__icon--minus\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M20 12H4\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"c-shortcode-faq__icon c-shortcode-faq__icon--plus\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M20 12H4\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/div><h3 class=\"c-shortcode-faq__question\">What is the success rate of credential stuffing?<\/h3><p class=\"c-shortcode-faq__answer\">The success rate of a credential stuffing attack is roughly 0.1%. This means that a fraudster may succeed once for every 1,000 login attempts. While this may be draining to carry out manually, credential stuffing scammers can use scripts to automate their attacks, which means they can attempt hundreds of thousands or even millions of logins per second.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Cardholders &amp; Merchants Should Know to Prevent Credential Stuffing Attacks<\/h2>\n<p>Credential stuffing attacks are a leading cause of data breaches today.<\/p>\n<p>A big part of the problem is that 64% of people tend to use the same password for multiple,<\/p>\n<div><a class=\"btn-filled btn\" href=\"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/credential-stuffing\/\" title=\"Credential Stuffing\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":9192225,"featured_media":83833,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[102,43,42,107],"class_list":["post-65599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ecommerce-fraud","tag-cybersecurity","tag-fraud","tag-prevention","tag-third-party"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9192225"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65599"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65599\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":94675,"href":"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65599\/revisions\/94675"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chargebacks911.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}