Unlike other approaches employed by malicious attackers, brute force cyberattacks do not require vulnerabilities in a domain to function. Instead, the success of these attacks is dependent on consumers having insufficient credentials. Because of its convenience of use and accessibility, the approach is very popular among entrepreneurial cybercriminals.
As per current research, brute force cyberattacks were responsible for 5% of verified security vulnerabilities in 2019. Another latest Kaspersky analysis suggests that brute force cyberattacks are on the rise during the epidemic. Due to the sheer increase in remote labor, brute force cyberattacks have increased from 13 percent to 31.6 percent in comparison to 2021.
What is Brute Force Attack?
The brute force assault is one of the most basic and least advanced hacking techniques. As the name suggests, brute force tactics are not subtle. The concept behind an assault is if someone makes an unlimited amount of guesses at a passcode, you will ultimately be correct.
The attacker intends to obtain unauthorized entry into a consumer account by guessing the login details. Typically, the goal is to utilize the compromised account to launch a large-scale assault, steal important data, take down the network, or a mixture of all 3.
How to prevent:
Because brute force tactics are not just a flaw in and of itself, having your software updated is insufficient to safeguard you. Below are a few typical ways to avoid these attacks:
Use a strong password:
Brute force attacks rely on poor passwords. People should avoid repeating passwords since websites get hacked and passwords are broken. By repeating passwords, hackers can more effectively target users on other platforms using your stolen credentials.
Longer passwords imply a greater number of potential possibilities before accessing it. Five-character credentials can be cracked in a matter of seconds on almost any computer, whereas ten-character passwords can need years and twenty-character passwords can take basically forever.
Snippets of personal data, like from your personal initials or the place where you belong, may create a password simpler to recall, but they are also easy to predict if someone learns anything about you. With these qualities in place, brute force attacks to guess your passwords will be unsuccessful.
Limited login attempts:
Most companies enable unlimited login sessions by default, particularly if they based on WordPress. When you’re a website developer, you may install a widget to restrict the number of login tries on your webpage in order to prevent brute-force cyberattacks. Such plugins enable you to choose how many logins you prefer your users to have. If they make too many tries, their IP locations will be blacklisted from the website for an extended period of time.
Use CAPTCHA:
Captchas are really an effective method of stopping bots and artificial programs from doing activities on your webpage by presenting them with difficulties before they would attempt to access them. Because the task is created for humans to overcome, machines have a difficult time passing it, which prevents them from attacking.
Use 2-FA:
Many believe two-factor verification is the first step in securing from brute force cyberattacks. Using such a system dramatically decreases the possibility of a data leak.
The beauty of 2FA would be that a passphrase alone is insufficient. Even though an intruder obtains your credentials, they will need accessibility to your cellphone or email program. Persistent attackers may try to bypass that barrier, but the majority will turn back and go for a simpler victim.
Disable root “SSH” login:
Using the root account, brute force attacks on the Secure Shell (SSH) network are conceivable. To prevent the root user from being accessible over SSH, modify the sshd_config directory and select the “DenyUsers root” and “PermitRootLogin no” settings.
Final thoughts:
Brute force methods are completely avoidable. By establishing a robust password policy, restricting login attempts, activating two-factor verification, employing CAPTCHAs, and restricting harmful IP addresses, companies can hold brute force cyberattacks at distance and substantially increase their data security.
Working with an IT company, on the other hand, may help you improve network security even further. Receiving continuous IT assistance along with an MSP ensures you have someone who can assist you adopt safety precautions, such as utilizing multifactor authentication, and analyzing disruptions so you’re prepared if something new arises. Using a professional service provider may take the uncertainty out of remaining safe in an ever-changing cyber threat situation.
