What is a Brute Force Attack attack?
1 min read
Updated 2026-02-05
An attack method that involves systematically trying all possible combinations of passwords or keys until the correct one is found. Rate limiting and account lockouts help prevent these attacks.
Understanding Brute Force Attack
Brute force attacks exploit the mathematical certainty that trying every possible combination will eventually succeed. Modern variants use dictionaries of common passwords, leaked credential databases, and distributed systems to speed up the process.
Examples
- Automated login attempts with common passwords
- Credential stuffing using leaked password databases
- Attempting to guess API keys or tokens
- Dictionary attacks using common password lists
How to Prevent
- Implement rate limiting on authentication endpoints
- Use CAPTCHA after failed attempts
- Implement progressive delays between attempts
- Use account lockout policies
- Monitor and alert on unusual login patterns
- Require strong, unique passwords
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