Have you ever attempted to guess a friend's Instagram or Facebook password to gain access to their account? If you answered yes, you might have tried a variety of username and password combinations to obtain access to their account, including letters, special characters, and more. However, a human cannot crack the password by trying more than 100 possibilities at once. This is similar to a brute-force attack, except it uses software to automate these procedures. Let us dive deeper into what a brute-force attack is, in this blog.
What is a brute-force attack?
A brute-force attack is a type of cyberattack in which a cybercriminal uses a trial-and-error approach to guess all conceivable passwords, encryption keys, or login information combinations to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and systems. It uses computer software to automate guessing the username and password combinations.
Types of brute-force attacks:
The following are the various types of brute force attacks:
·
Simple brute-force attacks: It occurs when a
cybercriminal manually attempts to guess a user's login credentials without the
aid of software.
·
Dictionary attacks: In this attack, a
cybercriminal uses a dictionary list of popular terms and phrases individuals
or organizations use, to crack a password-protected security system.
·
Hybrid brute-force attacks: In this, attackers
experiment with combinations of common words and random letters by combining
the techniques used in dictionary attacks and simple brute force attacks.
·
Credential stuffing: The attacker uses stolen
credentials in this type of attack. The attacker uses the stolen username and
password pairs and injects them into website login forms to illegally acquire
access to user accounts.
·
Reverse brute-force
attacks: It is a form of brute-force attack in which an attacker
attempts to obtain access to a network by using a common password against many
accounts.
·
Password spraying: In this, an attacker will
use a list of usernames and default passwords on the application to brute force
logins.
· Rainbow table attack: It is a method of cracking password hashes in a database by using a particular table known as a rainbow table.
The motive behind brute-force
attack:
Brute-force attacks can be used to steal sensitive information and infiltrate computers for nefarious reasons. Attackers can disable websites, profit from advertisements, redirect traffic to commissioned advertisement sites, and infect websites with spyware.
How to protect against brute-force
attacks?
You can always protect yourself and your organization against
brute-force attacks by following the practices mentioned below:
·
Use strong password combinations that include combinations of
letters, characters, symbols, and more
·
Use passphrases along with symbols to create strong passwords
·
Never use the same password for multiple or all of your accounts
·
Do not use information that can be found online to generate
passwords, such as your name, names of family members, and more
·
Use a password manager
·
Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) whenever possible
·
Invest in IAM and PAM
·
Ensure limited login attempts
·
Monitor IP addresses
·
Try to use unique login URLs
· You can use Web Application Firewalls (WAF)
Final words:
Brute-force attacks are one of the common tactics used by
cybercriminals to gain access to sensitive data and information. However, they
can be prevented. If you want to learn how to protect yourself and your
organization against brute-force attacks, you can enroll with InfosecTrain's CEH, PenTest+, Red Teaming, and various other
cybersecurity training courses.
