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What is a Brute Force Attack?

Typing AI
Typing AI - Dec 9, 2022
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Hackers today use different attacking methods to gain access to anyone's password. Brute Force Attack is one of the old techniques that still work, and hackers prefer using it as it can sometimes crack a password in no time.

 

What is a Brute Force Attack?

 

Brute Force Attack is a method to crack passwords by using a trial and error technique. It uses computer algorithms to guess passwords; when a hacker uses the right combinations, that password can be guessed easily. Thus, it is an old yet highly successful hacking method.

 

Some hackers use different hacking tools, while others assist themselves using tools. Once they get access to a password, the security of that user or the web page is compromised. In most cases, their main goals include:

 

  • - Spreading malware unto different devices
  • - Ruining the reputation of a website in local or international markets
  • - Stealing personal information
  • - Hijacking the whole system
  • - Adding spam ads on different websites to earn profits from them
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Different  Brute Force Attack Types

 

It is no surprise that there are several types of this attack. Each of these types of effects is in one way or another. So, hackers use the one that is most effective according to the case, and below are the details about different types:

 

Simple attack

A simple brute-force attack involves hackers using their logic to guess passwords. They don't use any software or tools to reveal passwords. This type is only effective against the simpler passwords that most users use today.

 

Hybrid attack

Hybrid attacks are a combination of the outside logic taken from some tool or software, and it is used to determine what type of password variation can crack the password for a specific site or users. The hacker then designs his cracking algorithms and tries them differently.

 

Sometimes he may use a combination of dictionary attacks creating a stronger attack and cracking even more complex passwords with varying letters and digits.

 

Dictionary attack

Hackers often maintain track of successful passwords or a combination of different successful passwords. In this method of brute force attack, the hackers will use large sums of successful passwords from their dictionary. It is most effective when the hackers have access to the whole password database of a website and only want access to one specific user's account.

 

However, dictionary attacks don't have any algorithm besides them; they usually only try several passwords until the security is breached.

 

Rainbow table attack

It is a precomputed table used for reversing the cryptographic hash functions. This method guesses a function that generates characters within the given limits to guess passwords.

 

Reverse Brute Force

Usually, hackers attempt to crack a password when they know the username. In reverse attacks, hackers have access to the password and must know the username that works with that password. So, hackers target many users with that password, and it easily finds the right username for that password.

 

Credential stuffing

Hackers sometimes get access to usernames and password pairs, but there is no information about the website to that they belong. So, hackers try a username and password pair on different websites. So, if one user has the same username and password for every platform, he may be in trouble.

 

Different prevention techniques against Brute Force Attacks

 

Setting weak passwords makes brute force attacks much more efficient. So, one must refrain from using basic passwords like Hello, qwerty, 1-9, etc. Such passwords are already exposed, and hackers need only a few seconds to crack the one you are using for your account. Some other tips to prevent your security include:

 

  • - Keeping your passwords different from any information present online
  • - Creating longer passwords that don't create any meaning
  • - Combining special characters and numbers in your password
  • - Creating different usernames for different platforms
  • - Use Two Factor Authentication (2FA) and Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) solutions that rely on biometrics authentication, such as typing biometrics or different AI biometrics that guarantees stronger account protection
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Lastly, you must refrain from using similar password patterns even when you use different passwords, like hellogmail123 for Gmail and helloinsta123 for Instagram.

 

Conclusion

 

Brute force is an old technique, but it still works as most users have the same passwords as they had in the previous decade. So, if you want to stay safe, follow all the prevention tips and keep changing your passwords frequently.

 

We recommend you to update your bank account passwords at leasy every three months. You should do the same for sensitive accounts such as email and work accounts.

 

Most of the online applications provides two factor authentication solutions out of the box. We recommend you to enable 2FA everywhere, to activate multiple authentication methods because it will keep your accounts secure.

 

Image source: Freepik