What is a Brute Force
Attack?
A brute force attack is a hacking approach in which an attacker systematically tries all possible password combinations or encryption keys to gain unauthorized access to systems, accounts, or encrypted data until they find the correct one. The attacker typically uses automated software or scripts that systematically generate and test millions or even billions of passwords per second. The process continues until the correct password is found or the entire password space has been exhausted.
For example, if your password is a 4-digit number, an attacker would start from 0000 and keep trying all the way up to 9999 until they find the correct combination and gain access to your account or system.
How to Prevent Brute Force Attack?
Preventing brute force attacks involves implementing robust security measures to protect sensitive systems and user accounts.
- Strong Password Policies: Users should choose complex passwords that combine uppercase and lowercase characters, digits, and special symbols and avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays, names, and common words in their passwords.
- Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enable MFA in all possible instances for added security. It provides users with a secondary form of authentication like a fingerprint, SMS code, or hardware token.
- CAPTCHA: Integrate CAPTCHA mechanisms to distinguish human users from automated bots, making it harder for attackers to automate the brute force process.
- Account Lockout: Implement account lockout policies that temporarily suspend user accounts after a certain number of failed login attempts.
- Rate Limiting: Implement rate-limiting measures to restrict the number of login attempts at a specific timeframe, slowing down brute force attacks.
- IDS and IPS: Deploy Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) solutions to detect and prevent brute force attacks in real time.
- Account Monitoring: Regularly monitor user accounts for suspicious activity and implement alerts for multiple failed login attempts.
- Software Updates: Keep all software, including operating systems, web servers, and applications, updated with the latest security patches.
- User Education: Educate users about the weak password risks, phishing attempts, and the importance of security practices to prevent brute force attacks.
How can InfosecTrain help?
InfosecTrain is a prominent global provider
of advanced IT security training worldwide. We provide a CEH v12 certification training course
that will help you learn about brute force attacks and how to prevent them. The
course covers different aspects of cybersecurity, teaching you about the
methods used by attackers, the potential impact of such attacks, and the
importance of taking preventive measures. We also offer you hands-on exercises
with real-life simulated scenarios to build skills to perform a brute-force
attack.
