What is brute-force attack?

A brute-force attack is a trial-and-error method used by cybercriminals to decode encrypted data, such as passwords or data encryption keys, through exhaustive effort. Rather than using sophisticated hacking techniques or exploiting software vulnerabilities, the attacker simply automates the process of guessing every possible combination until the correct one is found.

How brute-force attacks work

Attackers use automated software to run through potential combinations at high speeds. The duration of the attack depends on the complexity of the target:

• Simple combinations: Short or common passwords can often be guessed in seconds or minutes using modern computing power.
• Complex combinations: Increasing the password length and character variety (letters, numbers, and symbols) exponentially increases the time required to crack it, often making the attempt computationally unfeasible.
• Automated scripts: Attackers employ scripts that can test thousands of password guesses per second against a login portal.

The impact of brute-force attacks

When successful, a brute-force attack grants an attacker full access to a user account or encrypted data. This can lead to:

• Account Takeover (ATO): Full control over a user’s account, allowing the attacker to steal information or perform unauthorized actions.
• Data Exfiltration: Access to sensitive personal, corporate, or financial data that was previously secured behind the password.
• System Compromise: In some cases, brute-forcing administrative credentials allows an attacker to gain deep, persistent access to corporate infrastructure.

Comparative analysis

Brute-force vs. Password spraying

While both involve guessing passwords, the approach differs:

• Brute-Force: Targets a single account with thousands of password guesses. This is usually very "noisy" and easy to detect with account lockout policies.
• Password spraying: Targets thousands of accounts with a few common passwords. It is a "low-and-slow" technique designed to bypass lockout mechanisms and evade traditional detection.

Brute-force vs. Credential stuffing

A credential stuffing attack does not "guess" passwords. Instead, it uses a list of valid username-password pairs stolen from a previous, unrelated breach and attempts to "stuff" them into other login portals, hoping for a match.

Strategic prevention & mitigation

1. Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) : This is the strongest defense. Even if an attacker correctly guesses the password via brute force, they cannot complete the login without the secondary factor.
2. Implement account lockout policies: Configure systems to temporarily lock an account after a small number of failed login attempts. This renders brute-force attacks ineffective.
3. Mandate strong, unique passwords: Require long passwords (e.g., 14+ characters) that include mixed character types. This makes the time required to brute-force the password so long that it becomes impractical.
4. Use adaptive authentication: Employ identity tools that detect anomalous behavior. If a login attempt originates from a suspicious IP address or location, the system can automatically block the attempt or trigger an extra verification challenge.
5. Rate limiting: Limit the number of login requests that can be made from a single IP address within a specific timeframe to prevent automated scripts from spamming your portals.

Secure your global fleet with Deel IT

Brute-force attacks are a stark reminder of why identity and access management (IAM) must be a top priority. Deel IT helps you standardize your security posture across your entire global workforce. By centralizing hardware and access management, we help you enforce mandatory MFA and SSO policies, ensuring that your organization is resilient against credential-based attacks.

Whether you are onboarding full-time employees or international contractors, Deel IT provides the visibility and control needed to manage your global hardware fleet securely from day one. Learn more about how Deel IT simplifies global access management.

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FAQs

Can brute-force attacks be used against anything other than passwords? Yes. Brute-force attacks are also used to guess encryption keys (keyspace brute-forcing). However, modern encryption standards like AES-256 are designed to be so computationally complex that it would take current supercomputers trillions of years to guess the key.

Are longer passwords really that much safer? Yes. Because brute-force attacks test combinations exponentially, adding just a few characters to a password significantly increases the number of combinations, effectively adding years or even centuries to the time needed to crack it.