Brute Force

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Attacks
(Techniques, Types & Prevention)
Brute Force Attacks
These attacks are often used against password-
protected accounts. The attacker uses software
that generates many consecutive guesses to
gain unauthorized access to a user's account.

Brute force attacks can be performed quickly

for simple and short passwords, particularly if
they are not protected by other security
measures like account lockout policies after a
certain number of failed attempts or
CAPTCHAs designed to prevent automated
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submissions.

However, as password complexity increases,

brute force attacks become less practical due
to the exponential increase in the number of
possible combinations that the attacker's
software must test.
Types of Brute Force Attacks

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Simple
Brute Force
This is the basic form, where the attacker
manually tries various combinations of
characters, numbers, and symbols to
guess the password. It's time-consuming
and inefficient, but surprisingly effective
against weak, predictable passwords like
"123456" or "password123".
 2

Dictionary Attacks
Instead of random guesses, dictionary attacks
use pre-made lists of common words, phrases,
variations, and leaked passwords. These lists can
be extensive and even tailored to the target's
background or interests. Dictionary attacks are
significantly faster and more efficient than
simple brute force, especially against users who
reuse passwords across different accounts.
Types of Brute Force Attacks

3
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Hybrid
Brute Force
This combines the brute-force approach
with dictionary attacks. It starts with a
smaller list of common passwords and
then expands it with character
substitutions, variations, and dictionary
entries. This increases the attack's scope
while still focusing on likely password
choices.
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Reverse
Brute Force
Here, the attacker already knows some
information about the password, like its
length or specific characters used. They
then build targeted lists based on this
knowledge, significantly reducing the
number of possibilities and increasing the
attack's speed and success rate.
Types of Brute Force Attacks

Credential
Stuffing
This involves using leaked or stolen
username and password pairs from data
breaches to try them on other platforms.
Attackers leverage the fact that many
users reuse credentials across different
accounts. Credential stuffing can be
automated and highly effective, especially
against platforms with weak login security.
 6

Rainbow
Table Attacks
These attacks use pre-computed hashes of
common passwords and then compare them to the
hashed password of the target system. While not
directly revealing the password, a successful match
identifies the corresponding password in the
rainbow table. This can be faster than brute-forcing
the actual password, but requires significant
resources to generate and store the rainbow tables.
Types of Brute Force Attacks

Password
Spraying
Instead of targeting specific accounts,
password spraying uses a single common
password against a large number of
accounts. This aims to exploit weak
password policies or password reuse
across different platforms. While less
targeted, it can effectively identify
vulnerable accounts and gain access to
multiple systems at once.
 8

Brute Force Attacks

on RDP Connections
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a popular tool
for remote access to computers. Attackers can
use brute force techniques to guess RDP login
credentials and gain unauthorized access to the
remote system. This can be a gateway to further
attacks on the network or data stored on the
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system.
Tips To Prevent Brute Force Attacks
Strong Password Policies: Enforce complex passwords that include a mix of uppercase
and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. This exponentially increases the
number of possible permutations a brute force attack would need to try.

Account Lockout Mechanisms: Set up account lockouts after a certain number of failed
login attempts. This stops continuous password guessing dead in its tracks but should be
implemented thoughtfully to prevent denial of service situations through account lockout
abuse.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adding an additional layer of security beyond just a

password significantly diminishes the effectiveness of brute force attacks, as the attacker
also needs the second factor—usually a temporary code sent to a mobile device or
generated by an authenticator app. Secureb4.io

CAPTCHA: Implement CAPTCHAs to challenge and block automated login attempts,

ensuring that only humans can proceed with login attempts.

Use of Security Software: Deploy security solutions that detect and block repeated failed
login attempts, which are indicative of brute force attacks.

Monitoring and Alerting: Monitor systems for unusual login activity and set up alerts for
multiple failed login attempts. Secureb4.io

Network-Level Security: Utilize network security tools like firewalls and intrusion
prevention systems to block traffic from IP addresses that are known sources of attacks.

Password Managers: Encourage the use of password managers to help users maintain
unique, complex passwords for different sites and services, reducing the temptation to
reuse passwords.

Educate Users: Regularly educate users about the importance of using strong passwords
and the risks associated with weak authentication practices.

VPN and Encrypted Connections: Use VPNs and ensure connections are encrypted to
prevent attackers from intercepting credentials that could be used in brute force attacks.

Banning IP Addresses: Implement rules to ban IP addresses that show signs of brute
force attack behavior over a defined period.
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