One of the most common methods hackers use to gain access to a system or network is a brute force attack, where the attacker tries to breach your system by guessing the correct password to one of your accounts.
But what exactly is a brute force attack, and how does it work?
In this article, we will explore the ins and outs of this hacking method and discuss ways to protect yourself and your systems from these attacks.
What Is It?
Brute force, dictionary, or password attack, is a method of breaking into a password-protected system or network by trying every possible combination of characters until the correct one is found.
The attacker tests millions of PINs, passwords, and phrases in an attempt to ultimately guess the correct one, a systematic and intelligent trial-and-error technique.
Imagine a computer shooting arrows at a target, testing different angles, strengths, and starting positions – learning faster after each failure – until it hits the bullseye, and the computer now knows the exact settings.
Different Types of Brute Force Attacks
There are multiple ways an attacker can try to guess your password. Some methods rely on the sheer volume of attempts to increase their success rate. Others can use already-known information about you or your organization to make more relevant guesses.
Here are some examples of brute force strategies:
Password Cracking
The most common type of brute force attack, in which an attacker attempts to guess a user’s password by systematically trying all possible combinations of characters until the correct one is found. It can be performed on login pages, email accounts, and other systems that require a password for access.
Dictionary attack
The attack uses a pre-computed list of words, phrases, or other commonly used values as the basis for guessing. This list is usually composed of words commonly used as passwords or found in dictionaries. The attacker will then systematically try each word on the list to see if it is the correct password.
Hybrid Brute Force Attack
This type of attack combines a dictionary attack with a traditional brute force attack by utilizing a pre-computed list of words and then systematically trying different variations or combinations of those words. For example, an attacker might take a word from a dictionary and add numbers or special characters to the end. This increases the number of possible combinations that need to be tried.
Cipher Cracking
An attack in which an attacker attempts to guess the key used to encrypt a message or data by trying all possible keys. This attack is often used against encryption algorithms that use short keys, such as the Data Encryption Standard (DES).
Distributed Brute Force Attack
Similar to another type of cyber attack, Ddos, this attack utilizes multiple devices or systems to perform a brute force attack, significantly increasing the number of attempts that can be made per second.
Why Is It Dangerous?
Brute force attacks are constantly increasing as one of the infamous hacking methods today. It is extra treacherous because, in case of a successful attack, the attacker gains direct access to your system as a user.
Once they are “authorized,” the attacker can use whatever data they can access however they like. They can also exploit that access to deploy malware onto your system or use phishing to get more information within your organization. And if your defense does not recognize this as something out of the ordinary, it will likely go unnoticed for a long time.
Brute force attackers can target various systems and networks, including websites, email accounts, and servers.
Why Do Brute Force Attacks Happen?
There are many reasons to breach a system, but brute force is usually used for financial reasons or espionage to gain access to data or intel.
It can be done by anyone who can gain from a company suffering damage or disturbance. Such as a disgruntled ex-employee, a competitor, a saboteur, a political activist, etc.
Unfortunately, the web is filled with inexpensive automated brute force attack software applications that try millions of combinations per second. These programs allow even the less technical individual to crack passwords.
How to Detect
If you suddenly have increased traffic to your network, or overall slow service performance, you might be experiencing an ongoing brute force attack.
You can check your log files for suspicious failed login events or use security software to get activity reports.
How to Prevent
Using strong, complex passwords is essential to prevent brute force attacks and change them regularly. Other actions include:
- Using a firewall
- Enabling two-factor authentication
- Using an intrusion detection and prevention system (IPS)
- Update your software and security measures
Conclusion
In summary, a brute force attack breaks into a password-protected system or network by repeatedly guessing an account’s password. The heavy load of login attempts means that the targeted network often suffers from a high traffic load and can slow down its services.
Brute force attacks can be prevented by using a firewall and an intrusion prevention system.
Stay alert on your network’s performance changes, and be suspicious of users signing in from new locations. The tools mentioned are a great help for this.
Always use strong and unique passwords on all your accounts. An easy password may be more convenient, but you also make it easier for the intruder to brute force it!