Cyber Security

Have you ever worried about someone trying to guess your password?  This is very common because the crime is commonly called password spraying. 

This attack takes advantage of the fact that some people reuse passwords across multiple online platforms.  Therefore, this technique is quite dangerous, so we need to be aware of this cyber attack. 

What is password spraying?

Password spraying is a brute force attack that attempts to use the same password on multiple accounts before switching to another account. This attack is most likely effective if the user has a simple and easy-to-guess password. Examples include ‘123456’ and repeating letters or numbers. 

Password spraying can target thousands or even millions of users simultaneously, not just a single account. Interestingly, this process is automated and can occur over time to avoid detection.

How does a password-spraying attack work?

Password spraying attacks exploit the human tendency to reuse passwords across different accounts. Here’s how it works:

Obtain a Username List

Attackers often obtain username lists through various means, including data breaches or buying them on the dark web. These lists can contain usernames from email providers, social media platforms, or internal company directories.

Choosing Common Passwords

Attackers then list the most common passwords, such as simple or easy-to-guess passwords. 

Automated Login Attempts

Attackers use automated scripts to attempt these common passwords against all usernames in the list. This quick attempt happens across multiple accounts simultaneously, making it difficult for security systems to detect individual login failures.

Gaining Access

If the username-passworunauthorizedn in the list matches a legitimate account, the attacker will gain unauthorized access. This can then be used to steal sensitive information, spread malware, or perform further fraudulent activities.

Who uses password-spraying attacks?

Password spraying attacks are a favoured tactic by various criminals due to their simplicity and potential effectiveness. The following are some of the perpetrators who commonly use this technique. 

Cybercriminals

These individuals aim to steal personal information such as credit card details or login credentials for online banking or financial accounts. Once access is gained, this information can be sold on the black market or used for other fraudulent activities. 

Ransomware Groups

These groups use password spraying to gain initial access to a network. Once inside, they can deploy ransomware that encrypts essential data. 

State-Sponsored Perpetrators

In some cases, government-backed attackers may use password spraying for espionage purposes. They can access sensitive information or disrupt critical infrastructure by breaking into accounts.

Who do password-spraying attacks target?

Password-spraying attacks don’t target specific individuals but rather a large pool of accounts, hoping to achieve a successful login somewhere. Here’s why:

Focus on Common Credentials

Attackers rely on lists of usernames, often obtained from data breaches and a set of commonly used passwords. They’re not after a particular individual’s account but rather any account where the username-password combination matches on their list.

Large-Scale Automation

Password spraying attacks are automated, meaning the attacker sets the script loose to try username and password combinations across many accounts simultaneously. This scattershot approach aims to catch accounts with weak or reused passwords.

Success Through Volume

While individual attempts might fail due to security measures, the sheer volume of login attempts across different accounts increases the chance of success. Even a small percentage of successful logins can be valuable for the attacker.

Targeting Login Systems

Password spraying primarily targets login systems where usernames and passwords are the primary authentication method. This could include email providers, social media platforms, online banking portals, or internal company logins. 

How to Defend Against Password Spraying Attacks

Password spraying can be avoided in the following ways. 

Login Detection

Login detection logs all information regarding a user’s login activity. Organizations should look at the log information to see the name of the user trying to log in. If an organization sees its users logging into a system on a network they never connected to, this could be a suspected password-spraying attack.

Enforcing Strong Passwords

The next thing to do is to implement a strong password. As the rules we already know, password generation needs to be implemented with various criteria to make it difficult for password spraying techniques. Examples include a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and different symbols. 

Stronger Lockout Policies

The lockdown policy must be implemented on the login system. However, this lockout policy must be fair enough for authorized users, with some leeway if they make a simple mistake. The lockdown policy must also provide strict rules if there is any indication of password spraying. 

Adopt a zero-trust approach

A zero-trust approach can also be one way to avoid password spraying. This technique only provides access for specific purposes, such as repairing errors or retrieving important data. When all that has been done, the login access will be replaced. 

Use biometrics

Biometric techniques are now widely practised. Biometrics eliminate weak passwords, and access to login requires fingerprints, which will make the attacker unable to log in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

As explained in this article, password spraying is very dangerous, especially for users who use weak passwords. Therefore, from now on, apply the methods discussed above to avoid this attack. Remember to underestimate the creation of passwords because this crime technique can be attacked at any time.