Credentials are everything you use to prove to a service that you are the legitimate user. This is not only a passwordIn general, a password is an arbitrary string of characters including letters, digits, or other symb... More. It can also be an email address, one-time code, security keyA small physical key for safer login, often using USB, NFC, or Bluetooth. More, or recovery codesA backup code used to get back into an account when you lose the usual second factor or phone. More.
Why it matters: Whoever gets your credentials can often pretend to be you.
