Cyber Security

Brute force attacks are relentless cyber attacks that seek to crack passwords by systematically testing all potential combinations until the correct one is discovered.

This attack is like a robber trying every key on a big keyring to unlock a treasure box. It’s a trial-and-error approach that, while simple, maybe surprisingly powerful against weak defenses.

Ahead, we’ll look at how these attacks work, the types, the tools used, and the critical measures required to strengthen our digital data against the attack. Read on!

Brute Force Attack Definition

A brute force attack is a type of old cyber attack in which an attacker uses an excessive trial and error method to decode login credentials and encryption keys until a match is found to gain unauthorized access to an account or network.

Often, common personal information like name, address, or interests is used by attackers as the first step to guess the password.

How Do Brute Force Attacks Work?

Brute force attacks can be carried out using two methods: manual processes or automated software. While automated software works faster than manual software, it has a similar concept and aims: excessively trying out random combinations of login info to illegally access a user account or a network.

Types of Brute Force Attacks

There are various types of brute force attacks, from the traditional to the hybrid. Let’s take a closer look at each type!

Simple (Traditional) Brute Force Attacks

A traditional brute force attack involves an attacker systematically checking all possible passwords for one user account until the correct one is found using no software. This cyber equivalent of trial and error can be time-consuming and less refined than other hacking techniques, but it can be effective if there’s no limit on attempts and if the user’s correct password is very weak, such as “123456” or “password”.

Reverse Brute Force Attacks (Password Spraying)

In a reverse brute force attack, the script is flipped—instead of cycling through countless passwords for a single username, the attacker takes a known password (or a list of likely passwords) and tries it against many usernames. This approach depends on the fact that many people reuse passwords across different accounts.

The attacker’s goal is to find the account where the correct password fits. This method is particularly concerning because it exploits common human behaviors, like password recycling.

Dictionary Attacks

A dictionary attack is a method used by cyber attackers to break into a password-protected system by systematically entering all vocabulary in a dictionary as a password. Unlike traditional brute force attacks, which try all possible combinations, dictionary attacks are more refined. They target likely successful hits by using lists of common passwords, phrases, and even permutations of words with numbers or symbols.

Credential Stuffing Attacks

Credential stuffing attacks are a sneaky cyber threat where hackers use stolen username and password combos to break into multiple accounts of the same user across the web. Malicious actors rely on the fact that many users reuse their login details on several sites. They automate the process with bots, making thousands of attempts in a blink. The best defense? Unique passwords for each account.

Hybrid Brute Force Attacks

Hybrid brute force attacks blend the thoroughness of a dictionary attack with the relentless guessing of a brute force attack. They’re a smarter, more efficient way to crack a code because they narrow down the options before going all out with the guessing game.

This method enables attackers to uncover passwords that blend widely used or familiar words with digits, years, or various symbols. Thus, it’s wise to create passwords that are not just complex but also unique and unpredictable, like “Ponyo123”.

Tools Used for Brute Force Attacks

Many tools are available on the internet to use against brute force attacks—some are free! Here are some of them:

RainbowCrack

RainbowCrack utilized rainbow tables to crack hashes. It increases space usage through its pre-computed tables, resulting in decreased time required to execute an attack.

Aircrack-ng

Aircrack-ng is an all-encompassing suite designed to assess WiFi network security through various means, including monitoring, attacking, testing, and cracking using WEP and WPA PSK. It operates across multiple platforms such as Linux, Windows, macOS, and several Unix-like systems, making it a versatile tool for security practitioners.

THC Hydra

THC Hydra is a versatile network login cracker that supports parallelized brute-force attacks across various systems, like Linux, Windows/Cygwin, Solaris, FreeBSD/OpenBSD, QNX (Blackberry 10), and MacOS. It’s used with other tools to create wordlists for testing username and password combinations—simply, a dictionary attack. Its code is regularly updated and available on platforms like GitHub.

L0phtCrack

L0phtCrack is a password auditing tool that tests password strength and recovers Windows passwords using various methods, including dictionary and brute-force attacks. First released in 1997, it continues to be a relevant tool in cybersecurity, with its 7.2.0 version released as open-source.

What is the Best Way to Protect Against Brute-force Attacks?

To safeguard your account and data against these cybersecurity attackers, you need to do several best practices, including:

Increasing Password Complexity

To protect against brute-force attacks, increase the complexity of your password. Extend the length of your password or mix upper- and lower-case numbers or symbols to make it tough to crack and prolong the required decryption duration.

Encrypting and Hashing

Encryption and hashing turn passwords into complex codes, increasing the efforts required for an attack to occur. Encryption uses algorithms to scramble data into unreadable text, which can only be reversed with the right key. Hashing, on the other hand, is a one-way trip; it converts data string into a fixed-size hash value that cannot be reversed.

Enacting Two-factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is like a double lock for any online account. Before you can log in, it asks for two types of proof—usually your password plus a special key or a code sent to your phone. This way, even if an actor knows your password, they can’t get in without the second key.

Limiting Failed Login Attempts

Limiting failed login attempts sets a cap on how many times someone can guess a password before they’re temporarily locked out or need to take extra steps to continue. It’s a simple yet effective way to slow down attackers, forcing them to move at a snail’s pace.

Implementing CAPTCHAs

Implementing CAPTCHAs is similar to setting up a checkpoint that only people, not automated bots, can pass. It’s a test that requires users to recognize warped text or select photos with traffic lights, which is simple for humans but difficult for bots. This step can halt brute-force attacks in their tracks because the bots cannot get past the CAPTCHA to continue guessing passwords.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Brute force attacks are a persistent cybersecurity threat, exploiting weaknesses through relentless trial-and-error to guess passwords. With attackers using tools like RainbowCrack and Aircrack-ng, the importance of robust defense mechanisms has never been more critical.

Key strategies to counter these threats include creating complex passwords, using encryption, implementing two-factor authentication, limiting login attempts, and deploying CAPTCHAs.

As the cyber threat landscape evolves, maintaining vigilant and innovative defenses is essential for protecting against unauthorized access. To learn more, contact Fluxgate now!