Password Hashing vs Plain Text Passwords

Developers should learn and use password hashing whenever handling user authentication in applications, such as web apps, mobile apps, or APIs, to comply with security best practices and regulations like GDPR or PCI DSS meets developers should understand plain text passwords to avoid implementing insecure authentication systems, which can lead to severe security incidents like account takeovers or data leaks. Here's our take.

Password Hashing

Nice Pick

Developers should learn and use password hashing whenever handling user authentication in applications, such as web apps, mobile apps, or APIs, to comply with security best practices and regulations like GDPR or PCI DSS

Pros

• It is critical for preventing data breaches, as weak or plain-text password storage can lead to unauthorized access and identity theft, especially in systems storing sensitive user information
• Related to: authentication, bcrypt

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Plain Text Passwords

Developers should understand plain text passwords to avoid implementing insecure authentication systems, which can lead to severe security incidents like account takeovers or data leaks

Pros

• This knowledge is essential when designing user authentication, password storage, or data transmission protocols, ensuring compliance with security best practices such as using hashing algorithms like bcrypt or Argon2
• Related to: password-hashing, authentication

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Password Hashing if: You want it is critical for preventing data breaches, as weak or plain-text password storage can lead to unauthorized access and identity theft, especially in systems storing sensitive user information and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Plain Text Passwords if: You prioritize this knowledge is essential when designing user authentication, password storage, or data transmission protocols, ensuring compliance with security best practices such as using hashing algorithms like bcrypt or argon2 over what Password Hashing offers.

The Bottom Line

Password Hashing wins

Developers should learn and use password hashing whenever handling user authentication in applications, such as web apps, mobile apps, or APIs, to comply with security best practices and regulations like GDPR or PCI DSS