Simple definition
An attack that tries many combinations of passwords until it finds the right one.
Technical definition
The brute force is a symbol of attempts to authenticate against an account or a secret and may be limited by MFA, lock, delay and detection.
What is it used for ?
Understand and detect massive series of connection attempts.
Practical example
A portal VPN can receive thousands of trials on the admin account from different IP addresses.
Common issues
- Low passwords
- No restriction of attempts
- Statement of administrative accounts
Related terms
Key takeaway: This entry explains the general operation of the term. Exact settings may vary depending on software, vendors and environments.