Bashing Down the Door: Understanding Brute-Force Attacks
- Eric Velt
- Mar 10
- 3 min read
In the digital world, security is paramount. We build strong passwords, implement multi-factor authentication, and install firewalls to protect sensitive information. However, even the most robust defenses can sometimes be tested by a persistent and relentless adversary: the brute-force attack.
So, what exactly is a brute-force attack, and how does it work? Let's break it down.
The Essence of Persistence:
At its core, a brute-force attack is a trial-and-error method used to crack passwords, find hidden web pages, or decrypt data. It relies on the sheer volume of attempts, systematically testing every possible combination of characters until the correct one is found. Think of it as trying every single key on a massive keychain until you find the one that unlocks the door.
How It Works:
Target Selection: The attacker identifies a target, such as a user account, a website login form, or an encrypted file.
Combination Generation: The attacker uses software or scripts to generate a massive list of potential passwords or keys. This list can include:
Common passwords (like "password123" or "123456").
Dictionary words.
Variations of usernames.
Random combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols.
Attempting Access: The attacker's software automatically submits these combinations to the target system.
Verification: The system checks each attempt against the correct password or key. If a match is found, the attacker gains access.
Repetition: If no match is found, the process continues until either the correct combination is discovered or the attacker gives up.
Types of Brute-Force Attacks:
Simple Brute-Force: Tries every possible combination of characters.
Dictionary Attack: Uses a list of common words and variations.
Hybrid Attack: Combines dictionary words with numbers and symbols.
Reverse Brute-Force: Attacker has a known password and tries to find the username.
Credential Stuffing: Uses known username/password combinations from other breaches.
The Impact:
A successful brute-force attack can have devastating consequences, including:
Unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Financial losses.
Identity theft.
Website defacement.
System downtime.
What are the warning signs of Account Highjacking?
According to Guardz, there are several warning signs an employee’s account has been hacked or compromised:
Unusual Login Activity - All login activity is monitored and created by our providers (Google, Microsoft, Apple, etc.) Have your IT team review them for any odd locations or activities that are uncharacteristic of the user.
Missing Emails or Files - Is your inbox empty all of a sudden? Have you checked the spam folder lately with no luck? Emails that have been marked as “read”, moved to different folders, or deleted without your consent might be a tell-all sign that a threat actor has gained access to your account. But it gets worse, unfortunately. Deleted emails present other concerns, such as customer data privacy and the loss of sensitive documents.
Unknown Devices in Account Settings - Do you recognize that iPad with the unverified IP connected to your cloud environment? Something as simple as installing the latest Windows OS update can prevent a threat actor from compromising your accounts or from a catastrophic breach, as we saw with the recent CrowdStrike incident. Make sure your IT team is using something like NinjaOne RMM to monitor these settings.
Strange Account Recovery Requests - We’ve all seen the text messages and PINs that get sent to us by our banks and other websites. But you start receiving them when you’re not asking for them; that’s a sign someone has or is trying to get your information. I’ve experienced it with my Coinbase account. The best course of action is to contact that website, lock your account, and change your password and your username.
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