What is a Brute Force Attack in Cybersecurity and How to Prevent it

In the world today, there is a plethora of critical data circulating the internet, leading to complex attacks like brute force attacks. Individuals who are after this data for the wrong purpose and who use brute force attacks to gain access to these data are called cyber attackers. A brute force attack, called brute force cracking, is a cryptographic attack that relies on brute force to guess a targeted password, thus iterating every possible combination of characters until the current password is deduced. It is a method used by cyber attackers to break into online accounts or encrypted documents by trying every key on the keyrings before eventually finding the right one.

A cyber attacker does not need prior hacking knowledge to start a brute force attack, and a system, no matter how well secured, can fall prey. With enough time and resources, the computer can do the work by trying different combinations of usernames and passwords to get the correct one. With repeated attempts, a password can be cracked and a system compromised. Due to the repeated trial-and-error format, the strength and complexity of a password matter a great deal.

Why Do Attackers Use Brute Force Attacks?

Cyber attackers use brute force attacks because of the repeated trial-and-error format, which allows them to guess passwords or keys without any length constraint or character barrier. With this, they can generate multiple combinations of alphanumeric strings. For example, they start by trying out the most straightforward possible password combination, "123456" or "qwerty," etc., and then guess other possible strings. This process is repeated and continued until they finally identify the correct password.

Brute-force attacks attempt to guess all possible password combinations of letters and symbols, with and without numbers and characters. This is usually done by automated computers, which generate millions of possible combinations per second. Therefore, with weak passwords and enough time, it takes seconds to crack a password.

A cybercriminal using brute force attacks mainly aims at email addresses, online user accounts, and encrypted documents or even network peripheral devices sometimes. These are their primary target, focusing on accounts with weak passwords or users using default usernames or passwords. With the fast-evolving cybercrime, computing power such as botnets and automated computers has become a faster tool, making brute force attacks more efficient. This allows a more rapid attack rate in a very short time, even on the most complex passwords with additional security like multi-factor authentication.

Types of Brute Force Attacks

There are various types of brute force attacks, each with different formats and techniques for guessing passwords and gaining unauthorized access to data. An adequate understanding of how the different variations of brute force attacks work is essential to defend against such attacks. Listed below are the various types of brute force attacks:

Simple Brute Force Attack

A simple brute force attack is straightforward and one of the basic types of brute force attacks. It involves an attacker systematically guessing possible password combinations through trial and error until the correct password is obtained. It is often used with weak or commonly used passwords, starting with the simplest and shortest combinations and increasing to a more complex one. However, it can be time-consuming, and its success depends only on the password length, complexity, and computational power.

Dictionary Attack

A dictionary attack is an alternative to a brute force attack but differs with a wordlist. With a dictionary attack, the attacker already has a list of usernames and passwords that must be stretched against the targets. Hence, it is known as a dictionary because possible password combinations are already created before the attack. This type of brute force attack is faster than a simple brute force attack and more reliable than a brute force attack. However, its usefulness depends on the strength of passwords being used by the general population.

Hybrid Brute Force Attack

A Hybrid Brute force attack is a type of brute force attack that combines the above attacks. It implements both the simple brute force and the dictionary brute force. To improve the attack's success rate, the attacker begins with the list of common usernames and passwords, which is the dictionary, then adds variations such as symbols or numbers, sometimes substituting similar-looking characters or changing capitalization. This type of attack is resource-efficient, versatile, practical, and faster than simple and dictionary brute force attacks.

Reverse Brute Force Attack

A reverse brute force attack occurs when the attacker begins with an already-known password and tries to match it with a username. This attack is effective when users use weak or default passwords. The attacker can gain a list of default passwords from previous data breaches or leaked databases. They match these passwords with a wide range of usernames until they find a match. Therefore, finding a match in places with more extensive databases is possible and very likely.

Credential Stuffing

Credential stuffing is mainly connected to and leverages data breaches. It involves using an extensive database of credentials, i.e., usernames and passwords from these data breaches, which can be gotten from dark webs to gain unauthorized access to multiple accounts. They also take advantage of passwords reused across various platforms, leading to personally identifiable information(PII) leakage. Credential Surfing is very effective because the recycled passwords users use make it faster to gain access. Unlike any other type of brute force attack, executing is simpler.

Limitations of Brute Force Attack

Brute force attacks have several limitations that lessen the number of brute force attacks. Below are some of these limitations:

Password Complexity

Password complexity is one of the primary defenses against brute-force attacks. For attackers to gain access, they must try all possible combinations of alphanumeric strings, which is impossible with lengthy and complex passwords. Cracking a complex password means an attacker is willing to try millions of combinations, which can be time-consuming and demanding. Here, the target's weapon against an attack is the length and complexity of their password.

Lockout Policies

Another limitation of brute force attacks is the lookout policy. The lookout policy temporarily deactivates an account or requires additional measures like multi-factor authentication after several failed login attempts, preventing attackers from making further attempts to guess the password. This policy slows down a brute force attack and makes the attacker inpatient. When they are forced to wait, the next thing to do is move on to the next target, reducing the likelihood of guessing the password.

Advanced Threat Detection

In recent times, modern technologies like advanced threat detection, which includes AI and machine learning, can identify a brute-force attack. These technologies can also identify and detect unusual login attempts and alert account administrators immediately. This provident approach helps identify, mitigate, and stop these attackers before they can succeed.

Legal Consequences

There are legal consequences for attempting a brute-force attack. Laws against brute-force attacks have severe penalties for offenders. It could be paying a hefty sum or several years of imprisonment. This often acts as a deterrent to cyber attackers, making them less interested in carrying out the attack.

Brute Force Attack Tools

Brute force attacks use various tools to guess password combinations systematically. Hydra is an example of a popular tool known for its versatility and speed. Other tools include John the Ripper, RainbowCrack, and Hashcat.

The dark web is a marketplace for the sale of these tools. They are distributed on the dark web, where cyber attackers can purchase them illegally and help to promote their use. However, it is essential to note that pen testers can also use these tools for ethical hacking purposes.

How to Protect Yourself from Brute Force Attack

You must start with a strong password to protect yourself from brute-force attacks. A strong password must be long, consisting of random characters, letters, numbers, symbols, and alternating capitalization. Strong passwords should not include personal information, meaning a unique password is important. This is your first line of defense against brute-force attacks.

Password generators, also called password managers, are recommended to generate unique and secure passwords. They help provide passwords for multiple accounts and provide these passwords when needed. Multi-factor authentication (M.F.A.) is also an added layer of security that serves as verification in the case of unauthorized attempts. M.F.A. makes it difficult for an attacker to gain access without verification, even after cracking your password.

Additionally, maintaining your password hygiene by changing your passwords frequently and regularly checking your accounts for suspicious activity is essential. You must stay aware of best practices and be mindful of where and how you enter your passwords.

In summary, brute-force attacks have a significant impact and cannot be overlooked. Statistics show that they cause 5% of all data breaches. Therefore, solid passwords, multi-factor authentication, and additional security measures must be considered. By adopting these measures, you can effectively safeguard against brute-force attacks and keep valuable information and data safe.