This can be done by removing vowels or only using the first two letters of words then building a phrase that makes sense out of a string of shortened words. For example, shortening the word "hope" to "hp" or "blue" to "bl.
Hackers know common words or phrases that people use in their passwords and deploy tactics based around these common words to hack into people's accounts. Use unique passwords for every account: Credential stuffing sees hackers test passwords that have been used on websites to check if they are being used elsewhere.
Unfortunately, this proves highly successful as people frequently reuse their passwords for email accounts, social media profiles, and news websites. It is important never to use the same password for any two websites or accounts. Use password managers: A password manager makes it easier for people to create safe, unique passwords for all the websites they sign in to.
With a password manager, users can create long and complex passwords, securely store them, and not run the risk of forgetting, losing, or having passwords stolen. The onus is also on the organization to safeguard its users and bolster network security through tactics such as: Use high encryption rates: Encrypting system passwords with the highest available encryption rates, such as bit, limits the chances of a brute force attack succeeding and makes passwords harder to crack.
Salt the hash: Salting the hash is a cryptography tactic that enables system administrators to strengthen their password hashes. They add a salt—random letters and numbers stored in a separate database—to a password to strengthen and protect it. Use multi-factor authentication MFA : When you add authentication to a user login, you take the dependence away from passwords.
With MFA, after a user logs in with their password, they will be prompted to provide additional proof that they are who they say they are, such as a code sent via SMS or on their device or a fingerprint scan. Limit login attempts: Limiting the number of times a user is able to re-enter their password credentials reduces the success rate of brute force attacks. Preventing another login attempt after two or three failed logins can deter a potential attacker, while locking down an account completely after numerous failed login attempts stops the hacker from repeatedly testing username and password combinations.
Use an Internet Protocol IP blacklist: Deploying a blacklist of IPs used in attacks helps protect a business network and its users from known attackers. It is important to keep this blacklist up to date to prevent new attacks. Remove unused accounts: Unused or unmaintained accounts offer an open door for cyber criminals to launch an attack against an organization. Businesses must ensure they regularly remove unused accounts or, ideally, remove accounts as soon as employees leave the organization to prevent them from being used in a brute force attack.
This is especially important for employees with high-level permission status or access rights to sensitive corporate information. Provide Ongoing Security and Password Support. Provide password education: It is important for users to understand what good security and password usage best practices look like and to recognize the telltale signs of cyberattacks. They also need regular education and updates to keep them aware of the latest threats and reinforce good practices.
Corporate password manager tools or vaults also enable users to save complex passwords and eliminate the risk of losing their passwords, which could put corporate data at risk.
Monitor networks in real time: Brute force attacks can be spotted through telltale activity such as multiple login attempts and logins from new devices or unusual locations.
Businesses must constantly monitor their systems and networks for suspicious or unusual behavior and block potentially malicious activity immediately. What is an Encryption Key? How Fortinet Can Help. How long would it take to crack an eight-character password? A brute force attack can be time consuming, difficult to perform if methods such as data obfuscation are used, and at times down right impossible. However, if the password is weak it could merely take seconds with hardly any effort.
Weak passwords are like shooting fish in a barrel for attackers, which is why all organizations should enforce a strong password policy across all users and systems. Brute force attacks are usually used to obtain personal information such as passwords, passphrases, usernames and Personal Identification Numbers PINS , and use a script, hacking application, or similar process to carry out a string of continuous attempts to get the information required.
They can also be used for positive gains. Many IT specialists use this method of attack to test network security and more specifically, the strength of the encryption used on the network. An attacker is usually aided by automated software that uses computing to systematically check password combinations until the correct one is identified. Using a brute force password cracking application is required in order to go through numerous combinations and possibilities that can be difficult or impossible to calculate by a human alone.
Popular examples of brute force attack tools include:. There are a number of different types of brute force attack, each of which has the same goals detailed above. You may have heard of dictionary attacks. These are one of the most common forms of brute force attack and use a list of words in a dictionary to crack passwords.
Attackers also use brute force attacks to look for hidden web pages. Hidden web pages are websites that live on the internet, but are not linked to other pages. A brute force attack tests different addresses to see if they return a valid webpage, and will seek out a page they can exploit. Things like a software vulnerability in the code they could use for infiltration — like the vulnerability used to infiltrate Equifax , or a webpage that contains a list of username and passwords exposed to the world.
There is little finesse involved in a brute force attack, so attackers can automate several attacks to run in parallel to expand their options of finding a positive — for them — result.
Brute force attacks need time to run. Some attacks can take weeks or even months to provide anything usable. Most of the defenses against brute force attacks involve increasing the time required for success beyond what is technically possible, but that is not the only defense. The proactive way to stop brute force attacks starts with monitoring. Varonis monitors Active Directory activity and VPN traffic to detect brute force attacks in progress.
Reverse brute force attack —uses a common password or collection of passwords against many possible usernames. Targets a network of users for which the attackers have previously obtained data. Credential stuffing —uses previously-known password-username pairs, trying them against multiple websites.
Exploits the fact that many users have the same username and password across different systems. Hydra brute force attack. See how Imperva Bot Management can help you with brute force attacks.
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