What is Brute Force Attack?

Understanding Brute Force Attack

A Brute Force Attack is an assault method where an attacker systematically attempts every possible key, password, or credential combination until the correct one is discovered. This approach relies on sheer computational power and persistence rather than exploiting a specific vulnerability, making it particularly effective against weak or easily guessable credentials. While inherently time-consuming and resource-intensive, brute force techniques can succeed when protective measures like account lockouts, rate limiting, or strong password policies are absent.

Related terms: Exhaustive Search, Dictionary Attack, Password Cracking, Credential Stuffing.