Although the digital age has brought with it a lot of innovative features, there are some things, such as cybersecurity, that must be look out for. With a new threat every day, it is important to stay alert to prevent and protect your computer system from all possible hazards. We already discussed Malware and today we want to help you understand more about Brute Force Attacks.
But What Is Brute Force Attack?
A brute force attack is a trial-and-error method used to obtain information such as a username, password and personal information. In this sort of attack an automated software is used to generate many consecutive guesses as to the value of the desired data. This method is typically carried out using a script or bot to ‘guess’ the desired information until something is confirmed. While you might think a password keeps your information safe, remember that less than 8-character password is easier to crack than a longer and more complex one. Even though this is a simpler attack to understand and prevent, it has 3 types of brute force attacks:
Take a look at some of the most recent and famous cases of Brute force attack:
Alibaba: A massive 2016 brute force attack on the popular ecommerce site affected millions of accounts.
Northern Irish Parliament: Also in March, 2018 the accounts of several members of the Northern Irish Parliament were accessed by brute force attackers.
Westminster Parliament: An earlier attack hit Westminster Parliament in 2017 where up to 90 email accounts were compromised.
If the worst has happened and you have been attacked, here are some signs you should pay attention too:
What you can do to prevent a brute force attack?
Brute force attacks can be easy to detect simply because of the large number of login attempts. Whether you are a user or an administrator, see how you can avoid a successful brute force attack:
These are widespread attacks in the current digital age, and it is essential that you take measure to protect yourself and your business from attacks by taking necessary actions. Check out our blog about Password Practices to learn more about how to best manage your passwords and better protect yourself from these kind of attacks.
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