Types of brute force attacks and how to protect your password from it?
Nowadays, cybercriminals use all kinds of advanced techniques including brute force attacks to bypass your password-protected apps. In this article, we will have a detailed discussion about brute force attacks- what they are and how to prevent them.
Cybercriminals use brute force attacks to gain access to accounts by programmatically trying different passwords. Often hackers attempt this using bots they have installed maliciously on other computers to boost the power needed for such attacks. You can be at risk of brut attacks if you operate an online presence for personal or business reasons. A brute force attack differs from social engineering or phishing schemes where hackers try to get the password through social engineering. If we quote an example, card cracking is a form of brute force attack that runs through a series of potentially active card numbers followed by trying different permutations of CVVs and expiry dates. Brute force attacks can take different forms and attackers may employ various techniques to compromise passwords. Here are some common types of brute force attacks and steps you can take to protect your passwords. Types of Brute Force Attacks
Brute Force attacks come in various forms, each targeting different security aspects. Here are several types of brutal force attacks:1. Password and Username Brute Force Attacks
Password and username brute force attacks are also called simple brute force attacks. In these types of attacks, an attacker systematically attempts all possible combinations of passwords until the correct one is found. This is often used to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. Similar to password brute force, in a username brute force attack, the hacker tries different usernames to get access to an account.2. Dictionary Attack
The dictionary attack is created when an attacker uses multiple characters and numbers to alter words in dictionaries to test possible passwords. As the name implies, this type of attack utilizes a glossary of popular terms and phrases that are pre-defined in advance. It is also possible for hackers to check out individual user's blogs, social media profiles, and so on to establish their hobbies and see what words or phrases appear in those searches. Moreover, dictionary attacks are a rare since they are time-consuming and require additional effort. 3. Hybrid Brute Force Attack
Hybrid attacks combine elements of brute force and dictionary attacks. A hacker tests various characters, letters, and number combinations to guess passwords by trying a list of possible passwords. In other words, it involves replacing frequent words in the glossary with random characters or numbers. It is believed that the combination method would be more efficient than either of the separate methods on its own. 4. Credential Stuffing
A weak password etiquette contributes to credential stuffing. Cybercriminals regularly stuff identified passwords into login input fields on countless websites in the course of a credential-stuffing attack. Through this procedure, known passwords are tested on many websites. The majority of these attacks are automated and leverage compromised credentials but they may evolve to imitate human behavior or impersonate real customers over time. It is easy for sophisticated attackers to bypass common mitigation to combat credential stuffing such as CAPTCHA and multi-factor authentication resulting in abandoned transactions and revenue losses. 5. Reverse Brute Force Attack
When a hacker uses a reverse brute force attack, a known password is used as the starting point which has been obtained through a network breach. Their search uses millions of usernames to find a matching login credential. It is essentially a matter of predetermined passwords to see which stick in a vast database of user IDs and credentials. Tips and Steps to Protect Your Passwords From Brut Force Attacks
1. Use Strong and Unique Passwords: People nowadays still use very short and easy-to-crack passwords. For example, ExpressVPN's recent research revealed that 15% of their U.S. survey participants use weak passwords, including things such as their pet's name... It's essential to create complex passwords that include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Also, avoid using the same password across multiple accounts or services. Lengthy passwords composed of random words or characters are considered to be both more secure and user-friendly compared to nonsensical combinations.
2. Change Passwords Regularly: Periodically update your passwords to reduce the risk of compromise. Using the same password on every account you have can be tempting whether it's for computers, network equipment, or online accounts since it is easier to remember. The downside to this is that someone can gain access to all of your accounts if they figure out your passwords. Hence, it is important to change them from time to time.
3. Two-Factor Authentication: This authentication method reduces the chances of brute-force attacks. One of the easiest ways to implement 2FA on your WordPress site is to use one of the top two-factor authentication plugins.
4. Use CAPTCHA: CAPTCHAs effectively thwart bots and automated tools from carrying out actions on your website. By presenting challenges before allowing login attempts, captchas create hurdles specifically crafted for human resolution. The design makes it difficult for robots to successfully navigate the challenges, thereby impeding their ability to execute malicious attacks. This is important for businesses to implement to mitigate the chances of customer fraud, reputation damage, and potential lawsuits.
5. Use Web Application Firewalls: The web application firewall (WAF) protects your system from brute force attacks that attempt to gain unauthorized access. It limits the number of requests a source can make to a URL space within a specified period. A WAF can also protect your computer network from denial-of-service (DOS) attacks that exhaust server resources and stop vulnerability scanning programs from detecting security vulnerabilities.
6. IP Address Monitoring: Protecting your sensitive login and admin pages from brute force attacks is probably the easiest thing you can do by restricting IP access. A 403 Forbidden or firewall block page will appear if a request comes from an IP address that is not approved. This is particularly important if you have a hybrid workplace or the majority of your employees work from home. Therefore, a firewall should be set up to block login attempts from unusual IP addresses.
7. Password alternatives: Nowadays we also have a lot of alternatives to password authentication that can be used by businesses. These methods are more secure and easy to use.
By implementing these measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to various types of brute force attacks and enhance the overall security of your accounts. Final Words
Hence, individuals or organizations need to be aware of these different types of brute force attacks and implement security measures such as strong passwords, account lockout mechanisms, and multi-factor authentication to mitigate the risks associated with these attacks. As a result, it is highly recommended that you protect your business's financial, personal, and reputational assets by taking important required steps.
