Brute Force Attacks: Zooming Into the Cybersecurity Landscape

The brute force now sees a rapid rise in their frequency, thanks to the success rate they possess. According to the AAG IT report, in 2022, the average expense for businesses resulting from data breaches was $4.35 million.

Despite how annoying a registration process and a site or app’s obsession with the “Strong Password” requirement may seem, it’s now essential. The bliss of technology also invites the constant threat of cyber breaches, such as a brute force attack.

Delving deeper, this article covers all about a brute force password attack, the reasons for its success, and how to mitigate this cyber attack. Keep reading to find out all!

Note: We recommend always using a reliable VPN, like iProVPN, when browsing online. This will conceal your IP address, and with its robust encryption features, you’re ensured that your data never leaks out.

What Is a Brute Force Attack?

Bruteforcing refers to a cyber intrusion method in which a malicious actor attempts to obtain access to a secure system by systematically guessing information, such as usernames and passwords.

The hacker uses a trial-and-error approach, persistently making guesses until successfully identifying the credentials required to gain unauthorized entry to user accounts or organizational networks.

The term “brute force” originates from employing relentless or excessive force until the attacker achieves the desired outcome: gaining access to a system using the correct credentials.

Meanwhile, according to Verizon, 5% of all data breaches are caused by brute force attacks. Of breaches caused by hacking, 80% involve brute force or lost/stolen credentials.

Hackers often initiate these attacks by using personal details about their targets, such as:

• Names
• Addresses
• Interests

This only helps them guess the passwords.

The Types of Brute Force Attack

According to a news published by News Dive, approximately 51% of hackers prefer employing Bruteforcing tactics, citing vulnerabilities within cloud architecture like misconfigured software or readily available administrative usernames as key factors.

That said, brute-force attacks are successful for the various types they branch out in. Here’s a list of the primary 5 types of brute-force attacks:

1. Simple Brute Force Attacks

In this type of Bruteforcing, the hackers guess your user credentials, and with a good guessing game, they reveal the password. This type is mainly successful for simple passwords. Meanwhile, this doesn’t stick to only sitting like Sherlock and cracking the mystery but leveraging smart tools.

2. Dictionary Attacks

This type refers to the process of force hacking, where the hacker finds and selects the target and then tests all the possible passwords. However, this doesn’t directly include itself as a Bruteforcing attack.

By the name of it, in this brute force password attack, the hacker finds words from dictionaries, then sorts and amends words that are likely to act as a password. However, dictionary attacks don’t have a high success rate due to the time that goes in.

3. Hybrid Brute Force Attack

As the name says, this combines both – a simple and dictionary brute force attack. Starting with a username, the hacker blends the methods of both attacks and leverages them to find the credentials.

4. Credential Stuffing

This attack mainly involves the hacker prying its victim’s weak passwords. A hacker collects and notes down the password combinations and then tries those combinations on different sites.

Simply put, the black hats have a combination of keys, and they keep trying on the possible doors, hoping that something will work.

5. Reverse Brute Force Attack

Here, the hacker already knows the password or the highest possible variations of it. All that’s required is a correspondent login username. Instead of the password, the username plays the main role here.

Reasons Catering to the Attack: What Is the Advantage of Brute Force Attack?

According to Abnormal Security, from May 2021 to mid-June, there was a 160% increase in the frequency of a brute-force attack. And these stats only advocate for the benefits of a brute force password crack.

Here are the reasons and the benefits that drive bruteforcing:

1. Monetary Benefits from Illegal Data Collection

In this approach, hacks seek financial gains by strategically placing ads or compiling valuable user activity data. They leverage these insights for targeted advertising or selling the information to third parties.

2. Stealing Data and Information

Hackers engage in the unauthorized extraction of personal data and valuable possessions. This involves exploiting vulnerabilities to access sensitive information. This potentially leads to the following:

• Identity theft
• Financial loss
• Loss of other essential data

3. Damage a Brand’s Online Reputation

Malicious actors engage in activities designed to tarnish the reputation of a website. This can include:

• Defacement
• Spreading false information
• Conducting disruptive actions

Overall, this undermines the trustworthiness and credibility of the targeted website, potentially causing significant harm to its online standing.

4. Spreading Viruses and Malware

Perpetrators employ tactics involving the widespread dissemination of malware to disrupt systems and operations. This malicious software can lead to:

• System malfunctions
• Data loss
• Operational chaos

Is It Illegal to Do a Brute Force Attack?

Bruteforcing is illegal unless you’re working under ethical boundaries and hold an organization’s permission when performing penetration tests. On the other hand, if you involve yourself in a brute force password crack that aims to steal information for personal gains, it’ll be considered illegal.

The CFAA mentions that hacking and other ransomware-related activities are illegal by law. And if you’re engaging in these activities, you should directly expect to get into the hot waters.

What Are the Famous Brute Force Attacks

According to Verizon, Brute force techniques persist with a notable success rate, comprising more than 80% of assaults directed at web applications. Despite how threatening the stats sound, the details explain it all. Here are the top 3 recent brute-force attacks:

1. Canadian Revenue Agency (2020)

In August 2020, a brute force password crack targeted the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) and other government-related services, compromising approximately 11,000 accounts. The attack focused on the Government of Canada Key Service (GCKey) and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and , which provide access to diverse government programs.

Analysts disclosed that the assailants employed stolen login credentials, emphasizing the risks of using identical passwords across multiple platforms. This underscores the importance of adopting strong, unique passwords to mitigate the risk of brute-force attacks.

2. Open-source Magento Attacks (2018)

Magento, now Adobe Commerce, allows users to build e-commerce stores through this platform. However, it did fall victim to Bruteforcing. According to various news publications reporting the Magento attack, it was mentioned that the users’ data was being compromised.

Over 1,00 Magento admin panels were under a brute-force attack. Overall, the target was the Magento admin panel.

3. Alibaba (2016)

The e-commerce giant Alibaba was a target of brute force attacks, too, where 21 million users became victims of this attack in 2016. The hackers accessed users’ login credentials, and the graph only rose to 99 million.

With the data they gained access to, the attackers compromised 20.6 million accounts. According to experts, this attack was generally due to the same passwords being used by different users. And most of them were weak user passwords.

How Long Does a Brute Force Attack Take?

A brute force password crack typically involve making a few hundred guesses per second. Simple passwords, lacking complexity with a mix of upper- and lowercase letters, or those using common expressions like ‘123456’ or ‘password,’ can be cracked within minutes.

Recently, a password-cracking expert revealed a computer cluster capable of cycling through up to 350 billion guesses per second. This unprecedented speed could decipher every Windows password in a typical enterprise in less than 6 hours.

Blending CPU and GPU Powers

This extraordinary speed is achieved by blending the computational power of the CPU and the graphics processing unit (GPU). Adding thousands of computing cores in the GPU enhances processing capabilities, enabling the system to handle multiple tasks concurrently.

GPU processing, commonly used for analytics, engineering, and other computationally intensive applications, allows hackers to crack passwords approximately 250 times faster than relying on a CPU alone.

How to Protect Against Brute Force Attack

Bruteforcing capably takes down websites of tech and commerce giants, which is why there’s an increased emphasis on using strong passwords. However, brute force password crack prevention goes beyond that. Here are 6 ways to protect against a brute force password crack:

1. Use a VPN

By using a strong password, like iProVPN, you connect to a different server. Connecting to that, you can conceal your IP address; that way, all your browsing activities are hidden, too.

However, that’s not where it ends. You also get to leverage unmatched features that allow a safe online experience.

2. Crafting a Robust Password

Implementing a stringent password policy serves as a fundamental defense against brute-force attacks. Develop a complex yet memorable password for web applications or public servers, creating a formidable obstacle to unauthorized access.

3. Monitoring Login Attempts

In conjunction with the second strategy, restrict login attempts to users from specified IP addresses. Particularly crucial for hybrid work environments or remote employees is setting up alerts for anomalous IP addresses attempting to log in and promptly blocking them.

4. Enhancing Security with Verification Protocols

Incorporate two-factor or multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security. This method necessitates users to validate their identity through a secondary means, such as a unique code sent to their mobile devices, before gaining access.

5. Setting Limits on Login Attempts

Many websites’ Default settings, especially WordPress ones, permit unlimited login attempts. As a website administrator, use plugins to limit login tries, specifying the allowable number. This can be particularly important for a WordPress development company focused on maintaining the integrity of its digital infrastructure. Exceeding this limit significantly results in IP addresses being banned, bolstering protection against brute-force attacks.

6. Generating Unique Logins

Create distinctive login URLs for various user groups, posing a challenging and time-consuming hurdle for potential attackers. While not foolproof against brute force attempts, this measure is a deterrent, discouraging attackers who find the process too cumbersome or time-intensive.

Wrapping Up

In this article, we covered what a brute force password crack means, the types of, examples, and the prevention steps. Meanwhile, we recommend you use a reliable VPN always to stay shielded from bruteforcing.