Passwords should be stored securely in a database using strong cryptographic hash functions combined with a unique salt for each password. Hash functions are one-way mathematical functions that convert a password into a fixed-size string of bytes. The salt is a random value that is added to the password before hashing to ensure that identical passwords result in different hashes, making it more difficult for attackers to use precomputed tables (like rainbow tables) to crack the passwords.
For example, when a user creates an account and sets a password, the system generates a random salt, combines it with the password, and then applies a hashing algorithm such as bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2 to produce a hash. This hash, along with the salt, is then stored in the database. When the user logs in, the system retrieves the salt, adds it to the provided password, hashes the combination, and compares it to the stored hash to verify the password.
For enhanced security in cloud environments, services like Tencent Cloud offer password management solutions that incorporate these best practices, ensuring that passwords are stored and managed securely. These services often provide additional features such as multi-factor authentication and automated password rotation to further protect user accounts.