What is a Brute Force Attack?

Industrial Networking
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What is a Brute Force Attack?

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Brute Force Attack: Definition & Types

Attackers implement brute force attacks by following a systematic procedure of guessing passwords and login credentials as well as encryption keys. Advanced tools operated by hackers perform simultaneous password guesses until confirmation of the right option occurs. This age-old technique continues to provide unauthorized access which makes it one of the most preferred methods despite its outdated nature.

Types of Brute Force Attacks

  • Simple Brute Force Attack: Criminal hackers implement simple Brute Force Attacks that involve them guessing easy passwords such as “1234” which they obtain from social media profiles.
  • Dictionary Attack: Attackers use dictionary-based attack methods that apply standard passwords with basic modifications such as turning words into P@ssw0rd.
  • Hybrid Brute Force Attack: Hybrid Brute Force Attack uses dictionary combined with brute-force methods to test password variations including special numbers such as “SanDiego123”.
  • Reverse Brute Force Attack: The reverse brute force attack method uses obtained password information from data breaches to search against a range of usernames.
  • Credential Stuffing: Cyber thieves who obtain login credentials from one service apply these credentials to different platforms because users tend to reuse their passwords across different services.

How to Prevent Brute Force Attacks

  • Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Create passwords with strong uniqueness by preventing popular sequences as well as password repurposing.
  • Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) : Users should enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to establish augmented security measures.
  • Set Account Lockouts: Set Account Lockouts serve to stop users from entering incorrect passwords repeatedly.
  • Use CAPTCHA & Rate Limiting: The integration of CAPTCHA and rate limiting procedures slows down automated malicious attempts.
  • Monitor Login Activity: The early detection of suspicious activity becomes possible by monitoring login activity.

Security protocols implemented for account and system protection function to prevent brute force attacks.