What Is Brute Force Attack?

Hey, you're a brute force. You're also a good guesser. You don't let anything get in your way when you want something, so you're so good at cracking codes. No one can stand in your way when your mind is set on something. You're probably the kind who gets what they want, no matter what it takes. Brute force attacks are like a hammer: they might be helpful for some things, but if you misuse them, they will hurt. A brute force attack is a trial-and-error method to obtain information such as a user password or personal identification number (PIN). In a brute force attack, automated software generates many consecutive guesses as to the value of the desired data. Criminal hackers may employ brute force attacks to crack encrypted data or security analysts to test an organization's network security. As these attacks are easy and don't require much thought or effort, they are prevalent. These attacks are also elementary to defend against, especially with the right security software installed on your devices. Most security software includes an option to block common words from being used as passwords, which is one way to defend against dictionary attacks. Other security software includes anti-forgery software, which can help block out different types of brute-force attacks. Brute force attacks are not a new idea. If you've ever watched an episode of MacGyver, you may have seen him use one to break into a safe. In this attack, the hacker tries every possible combination of numbers or letters until they find the right one. It's challenging and takes time, so we call it a brute-force attack. Hackers can use brute force attacks to crack passwords or even access your bank account if you use an older ATM with no extra security features.