If you’ve ever forgotten your password and tried every combination you could think of until one finally worked, congrats, you’ve manually attempted a brute force attack. Of course, when hackers do it, they don’t sit around guessing. They automate the whole process with scripts and tools that test thousands (or millions) of possible passwords until they crack the right one. It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book, but it’s still surprisingly common.
You’d think by 2025, with all the advancements in cybersecurity, this kind of basic attack wouldn’t still be a threat. But here’s the thing, humans are still humans. We still use weak passwords. Systems still have exposed login pages. And cybercriminals? They’re just as persistent, if not more. So while it’s not the flashiest attack out there, the brute force attack is still alive and well, and still effective.
The term “brute force” comes from the idea of using raw power to break through a barrier, rather than finding a clever workaround. Imagine trying to break a lock by trying every possible combination, one after the other. That’s essentially what’s happening here. No fancy tricks, just sheer computational effort.
Unlike phishing, where hackers rely on deception, or malware, which involves infecting systems, a brute force attack is all about guesswork. It’s not subtle. It doesn’t sneak in through a backdoor. It pounds on the front door repeatedly until it gets in. That’s why understanding how these attacks work (and how to defend against them) is still crucial.
Let’s walk through how a typical brute force attack unfolds.
It usually starts with a login page, maybe for an email account, website admin panel, or a cloud storage service. Sometimes, the target could be an encrypted ZIP or PDF file. The attacker identifies the target, finds the login form or file, and prepares to attack.
This is where automation comes in. Using software, the attacker runs a script that systematically goes through possible passwords. It could start with “123456”, then “password”, then “letmein”, and keep going. If the attacker has some idea of the password’s structure (like it’s 8 characters long, or contains the user’s name), they’ll tailor the attack accordingly.
Eventually, if the password is weak or guessable, the script will hit the jackpot. The right combination is entered, and the door opens.
From there, the attacker can steal data, lock out users, install malware, or worse. And unless there’s good monitoring in place, no one might even notice until the damage is done.
There’s more than one way to carry out a brute force attack. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types:
This is the most basic kind, trying every possible combination until something works. It’s slow, but it can work if the password is weak or short.
Rather than trying every combo, this approach uses a list of common passwords (think “qwerty”, “iloveyou”, “admin123”). It’s faster because it assumes people reuse passwords found in leaks or wordlists.
The hybrid brute force attack combines dictionary and simple brute force methods. It might start with a wordlist and then try adding variations, like appending numbers or symbols. For example, trying “password1”, “password2025”, “P@ssword”, and so on.
This attack uses previously stolen usernames and passwords (from data breaches) and tries them on other sites. It works because people reuse passwords across platforms. If your Netflix password is the same as your bank password, you could be in trouble.
Instead of starting with a username, this attack starts with a common password, like “123456”, and tries it across a large list of usernames. It’s a bit like fishing with a wide net.
Hackers have plenty of tools to help automate brute force attacks. Here are some of the big ones:
Hydra is a fast and flexible tool used for password cracking. It supports many protocols, including FTP, HTTP, SMB, and more. It’s a favourite because of its speed and plugin support.
This one’s a classic. John the Ripper is known for cracking Unix-based password hashes, but it’s also capable of attacking encrypted files. It supports hybrid brute force attacks, dictionary attacks, and more.
One of the most powerful tools out there, Hashcat can crack complex password hashes using GPU acceleration. If someone is trying to crack a hashed password quickly, they are probably using Hashcat.
Medusa is a fast parallel login brute-forcer. It works on large networks and is suitable for testing multiple hosts at once, making it ideal for enterprise-level attacks.
Targeting Wi-Fi? Aircrack-ng is your go-to. It focuses on cracking WEP and WPA/WPA2-PSK keys. It is often used in Wi-Fi penetration testing and can brute-force passwords based on packet captures.
The easiest way to stop a brute force attack? Multi-factor authentication (MFA). If logging in requires a second step, like a code sent to your phone, then even a cracked password won’t be enough. Unfortunately, many systems still don’t enforce it.
Some systems expose login forms through APIs that aren’t rate-limited or monitored. That gives attackers free rein to hammer away with scripts without getting blocked.
Hackers don’t just attack websites, they go after anything with a password.
CMS logins like WordPress or admin dashboards are frequent targets. Many are left with default usernames like “admin” and weak passwords.
Remote access tools like SSH and RDP are juicy targets. If exposed to the internet, attackers will definitely take a shot.
These often contain sensitive data or access to other systems. A compromised email can lead to password resets across services.
Hackers might camp near a café or office and use tools like Aircrack-ng to crack weak Wi-Fi passwords.
Sometimes, instead of attacking a login page, they go after a file, trying to unlock it by brute-forcing the password.
Detecting brute force attacks isn’t always easy, but here are some red flags:
Log monitoring and security analytics platforms can help catch these signs early.
Users should:
Website and server admins can:
Phishing relies on tricking people into handing over credentials. Brute force attacks don’t rely on deception, they just try all possible passwords until something works.
A dictionary attack is a subset of brute force, using a pre-set list of passwords. Rainbow tables, on the other hand, are precomputed hashes used to crack passwords faster. They’re fast, but limited to known hash types and values.
Brute force attacks are relatively simple to set up, but they can be noisy and time-consuming. Still, if they succeed, the damage can be major, especially if they provide access to sensitive systems.
| Aspect | Brute Force Attack | Phishing | Dictionary Attack | Rainbow Table Attack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Tries all possible password combinations until it finds the right one | Tricks users into revealing sensitive info (like passwords) | Uses a predefined list of common passwords | Uses precomputed hash values to reverse password hashes |
| Automation | Highly automated using tools and scripts | May involve automated emails or messages, but relies on human error | Automated with wordlists | Automated using large hash databases |
| Requires User Interaction | No | Yes, depends on the user clicking a link or providing credentials | No | No |
| Speed | Can be slow depending on password length and complexity | Fast if the user falls for the bait | Faster than brute force, but limited by the wordlist | Very fast if hash and algorithm are known |
| Success Depends On | Password strength and system protections (rate limits, MFA, etc.) | User awareness and caution | Passwords appearing in the dictionary | If the hash exists in the rainbow table |
| Easily Detectable | Yes, through login logs, failed attempts, and spikes in traffic | Harder to detect until credentials are misused | Yes, but fewer attempts than full brute force | Not easily detectable unless the system monitors hash query behavior |
| Primary Targets | Login pages, encrypted files, and remote services | Email users, employees, and the general public | Same as brute force (logins, accounts) | Systems storing hashed passwords |
| Protection Methods | Strong passwords, MFA, rate limiting, CAPTCHA | Email filters, employee training, and anti-phishing tools | Same as brute force, plus password policies | Salting hashes, using slow hash algorithms |
| Technical Skill Required | Moderate, needs tools and some scripting | Low, often just templates and spoofing sites | Low to moderate | High, requires building or acquiring large hash tables |
| Noise Level (Stealthiness) | Very noisy, creates many login attempts | Low, relies on social engineering | Less noisy than full brute force | Silent, no guessing required if hash match is found |
So, what is a brute force attack? It’s a brute method of breaking into systems by guessing passwords, again and again, until something sticks. It’s not glamorous, and it’s not subtle. But it still works, especially when people use weak passwords or when systems lack proper protection.
The good news? It’s preventable. With a bit of awareness, some decent password hygiene, and modern security practices, we can make life a lot harder for the hackers out there running brute force scripts.
It’s all about trying every possible password combination until the right one is found. It’s a guessing game on steroids.
Yes. Gaining unauthorised access to accounts, systems, or data via brute force attack is illegal in most countries and considered a criminal offence.
Anything with a login form, email accounts, websites, remote servers, Wi-Fi networks, and even encrypted files.
Yes, including simple brute force, dictionary attacks, hybrid brute force attack, credential stuffing, and reverse brute force.