Why should you never store user passwords in a Python database using a simple variable assignment like stored_password = user_input?

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A Variables in Python can only hold numbers.
B Storing passwords in plaintext exposes them to anyone who gains unauthorized access to the database or code.
C Python automatically deletes plaintext variables after 10 minutes.
D Plaintext strings make the Python script run too slowly.

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Answer: B. Storing passwords in plaintext exposes them to anyone who gains unauthorized access to the database or code.

Answer: B)
Explanation: In cyber security, storing passwords in plaintext is a severe vulnerability. If an attacker breaches the system, they can instantly read all user accounts. Passwords should always be scrambled using a strong cryptographic hashing algorithm (like bcrypt or hashlib.sha256()) before storing.

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Why should you never store user passwords in a Python database using a simple variable assignment like stored_password = user_input?

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