Brute force and dictionary attacks: A cheat sheet (free PDF)
Hackers always have a goal–sometimes reaching that goal is as simple as a phishing attack or exploiting a software vulnerability, but that isn’t always the case. When a hacker’s objective lies beyond their reach thanks to good cybersecurity practices such as password rules and encryption, they might turn to another method: Brute force.
If you hit a locked box enough times, it will pop open, and the same (theoretically) goes for breaking into a computer system. By trying every possible password combination, or using a dictionary of common passwords, a hacker can gain access to an organization’s most valuable secrets.
It isn’t just web applications that are at risk from brute force attacks–encrypted databases, password-protected documents, and other secure data can be stolen in a brute force attack, whether it’s available online or downloaded to an attacker’s computer.
It’s essential that cybersecurity professionals know the risks associated with brute force attacks. Read on in this free PDF download from TechRepublic to find out what you need to know about this classic form of cybersecurity attack, how safe you may (or may not) be, and how to defend your systems against brute force attacks.