What is a common vulnerability in sending passwords over the internet?

Sending passwords in plaintext is a significant vulnerability because it means that the data is not obfuscated or protected in any way during transmission. When passwords are sent without any form of encryption, they can be easily intercepted by attackers through various means, such as network sniffing or man-in-the-middle attacks. This makes it relatively simple for unauthorized individuals to gain access to sensitive accounts and data, as they can see the password as it travels across the network.

In contrast, using encryption protocols ensures that the data, including passwords, is transformed into an unreadable format, rendering it useless to anyone who might intercept it. Secure connections, such as HTTPS, utilize encryption to protect data in transit. Additionally, two-factor authentication adds another layer of security, but it does not directly address the issue of how passwords are transmitted over the internet. Therefore, sending passwords in plaintext is a clear-cut vulnerability that should be avoided.