In today’s digital world, where every online move we make leaves a digital footprint, securing information has become one of the top priorities. One significant challenge we face is “Brute Force” – an age-old digital attack method that still threatens many systems and accounts. Let’s delve into this important issue through the following article.

What is a Brute Force Attack?

Have you ever tried guessing someone’s password? If so, you’ve engaged in a very simple form of a brute force attack. So, what exactly is Brute Force?

A brute force attack is a network attack technique that tries all possible combinations until it finds the correct answer. This attack method can be applied to various targets, such as passwords, encryption, authentication codes, and more.

Essentially, this is a network attack technique that continuously tests various password combinations to guess a user’s or administrator’s password. It’s one of the most common and dangerous attack methods, capable of causing significant harm to the personal and organizational information security.

Consequences of a Brute Force Attack

A brute force attack can lead to several negative consequences for the victim, such as losing access to their account, having personal or financial information stolen, being exploited to distribute malware or spam, and more. Therefore, ensuring network information security against brute force attacks is crucial. Being subjected to a brute force attack can have serious repercussions for users and organizations, including:

• Loss of Critical Data: If attackers can guess your password, they can delete, modify, or steal sensitive data like personal information, financial details, customer data, copyrights, etc.
• Loss of System Control: If attackers gain access to your system, they can alter settings, install malicious software, sabotage, or take control of your system.
• Damage to Reputation and Trust: If attackers access your system, they can exploit it to spread misinformation, cause chaos, deceive, or attack other systems, damaging your reputation and trust with customers, partners, suppliers, and governmental agencies.
• Financial Loss and Time Wastage: If attackers gain access to your system, they can demand ransom, steal money, or use your resources for their own purposes, leading to significant economic damage and consuming substantial time to rectify.

Common Types of Brute Force Attacks

Brute Force attacks come in various forms:

Simple Brute Force Attack

The simplest form where attackers use a list of characters that could appear in a password and try each possible combination.

Dictionary Attack

Utilizes a list of meaningful words (often a dictionary) to try as passwords, assuming users use meaningful words for ease of memory.

Hybrid Brute Force Attack

Combines elements of Simple Brute Force and Dictionary Attacks, using a list of meaningful words and adding characters or numbers to create different passwords.

Rainbow Table Attack

Utilizes a pre-built lookup table to decode password hashes. This table, known as the Rainbow Table, generates various hashes from an initial hash value, creating a sequence of differently colored hashes.

Reverse Brute Force Attack

Contrary to other forms, attackers use a single password and try it across multiple accounts, assuming users use the same password for multiple services.

Credential Snuffing

A dangerous and hard-to-detect form where attackers steal user login information by mimicking legitimate websites or applications.

Preventing Brute Force Attacks

To prevent brute force attacks, both internet users and website administrators should take the following measures:

For Internet Users

• Choose strong passwords by combining uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters. Avoid easily guessable passwords like names, birthdays, phone numbers, or words that might be in a dictionary.
• Regularly change passwords, preferably every three months, and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts to enhance security.
• Whenever possible, enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), an additional security layer requiring users to input a confirmation code sent via SMS, email, or a mobile app when logging in.
• Avoid storing passwords in web browsers, computers, or mobile devices. Use a reliable password management app to store and generate secure passwords.
• Refrain from sharing passwords with anyone, including friends, family, or support staff. Limit entering passwords on public or untrustworthy devices.

For Website Administrators

• Set limits on the number of allowed incorrect login attempts. Automatically lock user accounts or block the IP address of users after exceeding a defined number of incorrect attempts.
• Implement captchas or reCAPTCHAs to prevent bot attacks. These are questions or images that confirm the user as a human rather than a machine.
• Apply SSL/TLS encryption to protect transmitted information between the client and server, preventing data theft or interference.
• Regularly update system patches and upgrades for web applications to address security vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit.
• Monitor and track unusual login activities on the website. If signs of brute force attacks are detected, promptly notify users and ask them to change their passwords.

See more: What is Phishing? How to prevent your private information from phishing attack?

Brute force attacks pose a significant threat to cybersecurity. By implementing the preventive measures outlined above, you can protect your accounts and websites from malicious attackers. Always be vigilant and proactive in securing your information on the internet.