Passwords are rarely evaluated until safety violation; Suffice it to say that the importance of a strong password becomes clear only when colliding with the consequences of the weak. However, most end users do not know how vulnerable their passwords are to the most common password cutting methods. Below are three common password hacking methods and how to protect them.
A rough force attack
Bruth attacks are simple but highly effective methods of hacking passwords. These attacks include malicious subjects that use automated tools to systematically attempt each possible password combination through repeated entry attempts. Although such tools have been in existence for years, the appearance of accessible computing and storage has made them even more effective, especially when weak passwords are used.
As it works
When it comes to gross attacks, malicious actors use a number of tactics – from simple rough attacks that check all possible password combinations to more nuanced approaches, such as hybrid and back attacks of gross forces. Each method has a clear strategy, but the motives that lie in the rudeness of the power attacks are the same: get unauthorized access to protective data or resources.
Some popular automated tools for conducting gross strength include:
- John’s: Multiplayer Break Password Backed 15 different operating systems and hundreds of hashas and cipher types
- L0ptcrack: Tool that uses rainbow tables, dictionaries and multi -processor algorithms to crack Windows passwords
- Hashcat: Utility hacking/recovery password that supports five unique attack modes for more than 300 high -clatized algorithms
Examples
Back in August 2021. American mobile operator T-Mobile fell victim Data impairment It started with the rough force. A compromise security has impacted more than 37 million customer records that contain sensitive data, such as social insurance numbers, driver information and other data that can be determined personally.
Protection Measures
Users need to choose strong, complex passwords and multifactorial authentication (Foreign Ministry) to protect against gross strength. Administrators must pursue the accounting policy and constantly audit their environments for weak and violated passwords. Tools like Auditor Password specups May automate these processes in the broad IT.
Attack of the dictionary
In the attack in the cyberators’ password dictionary, they try to access using a list of common passwords or words from the dictionary. This predetermined word list usually includes the most commonly used words, phrases and simple combinations (ie “Administrator123”). Password attacks emphasize the importance of complex, unique passwords as these types of attacks are particularly effective against weak or easily password assumptions.
As it works
The process begins with a list of potential passwords from data violations, common password lists or public resources. Using an automated tool, malicious actors commit the vocabulary attack, systematically checking each password on the target account or system. When the match is found, the hacker can access and make the following attacks or movement.
Examples
Malicious actors used password dictionaries to hack your hash passwords in several high -profile security incidents, such as 2013 G. Data Violation Yahoo and 2012 G. Data Violation LinkedIn. This allowed them to steal information about billions of users.
Protection Measures
When creating either Reset the passwordsUsers should use a combination of letters, numbers and special characters, as well as avoid using common words or easily mentioned phrases. Administrators can implement the requirements for the complexity of the password in their politics To perform these mandates throughout the organization.
Rainbow’s attacks
The rainbow table is used by a special table (ie “Rainbow table), consisting of pre -calculated lines or commonly used passwords and appropriate hash to hack your password hash in the database.
As it works
Rainbow tablets work using chains that operate and reduce operations to effectively crack the hash passwords. Potential passwords are initially hidden and stored near their open texts in the rainbow table, and then processed by a recovery function, which reflects them to new values, leading to the hash chain. This process is repeated several times to create a rainbow table. If hackers get hash -listedThey can change the search for each hash value in the rainbow table – a coincidence of the appropriate password is revealed.
Examples
While salting (the method of adding random signs to the passwords before grip) reduced the effectiveness of the attacks on the rainbow table, many hash remain not salty; In addition, success in graphic processors and affordable equipment excluded storage restrictions related to rainbow tables. As a result, these attacks still remain probable tactics in today’s and future loud cyber.
Protection Measures
As mentioned earlier, the salted hash significantly reduced the efficiency of pre -calculated tables; Thus, organizations must implement strong hashization algorithms (such as BCRIPT, Scrypt) in their password processes. Administrators also need to update and turn passwords regularly to reduce the likelihood of matches/rainbow hits.
In short, the passwords are not perfect, but complicated and long passwords remain vital the first line of defense from the advanced methods of cutting passwords. Tools like Policy specups Provide an additional protection layer by constantly scanning Active Directory on database with more than 4 billion violated passwords. Contact us for free demonstration today.
