Dictionary attack is an attempt to guess a user’s login details or password by using a predetermined list of words. The attack involves trying to identify the target user’s password or other credential by systematically trying all words in a predefined ‘dictionary’ of possible options. This attack is sometimes called a ‘brute force attack’, as it works by trying many possible combinations until the correct one is eventually found.
This type of attack is typically used by attackers who have gained access to an authentication system like a web server or online service, but don’t yet have the credentials necessary to log in. In this situation, they might try to guess the user’s password by running through a list of common words and phrases (known as a dictionary attack).
Dictionary attacks are designed to take advantage of the fact that users often choose passwords that are easily guessed or simply based on words in the dictionary. In order to increase their chances of success, attackers often target users whose accounts involve personal information (like birth date or address) as these types of passwords are likely to be more easily guessed. Modern systems have evolved to deal with these types of attacks, however, by implementing complex authentication procedures or the use of separate passwords for different applications.
Dictionary attacks can also be employed in a ‘batch’ context, where multiple users’ accounts can be targeted at once by uploading a list of possible passwords. This type of attack has been a major security concern for organizations like banks and government institutions, whose security procedures must be robust enough to detect such attempts and guard against any possible breaches of their security.
Overall, dictionary attacks are a widely used tool by attackers looking to take advantage of weak authentication systems and vulnerable passwords. For this reason, users should always make sure to choose strong passwords that are hard to guess, and update them regularly to prevent potential attacks.
