How to detect if you have fallen victim
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2024 7:20 am
Hackers can also use “scraping,” a process that involves using automated tools to gather large amounts of data from websites. These web “scrapers” crawl web pages, forums, social media profiles, etc., and extract a list of all the email addresses they can find.
Creating a list of common passwords
In parallel, attackers need to create a list of common passwords such as “123456”, “password” or “qwerty12345789”.
These lists can also be found on the darknet. There is also an entire Wikipedia entry dedicated to the most common passwords . So if you have a password from that list, make sure to change it as soon as possible.
Launching the attack
Once attackers have a list of usernames and passwords, they can begin attacking accounts. Unlike brute-force attacks, which repeatedly guess an account's passwords, password spraying attacks target a large number of accounts, testing only a handful of common passwords on each.
This approach is very effective because it avoids triggering security systems that lock accounts after several failed attempts.
For example, they may decide to attack Facebook accounts. For each username on their list, they will try a handful of passwords from their second list. If none of them work, they move on to the list of austria whatsapp phone numbers next username. If the number of attempts allowed is public, they can further refine their attack. For example, Facebook locks your account after 5 failed attempts. Knowing this, an attacker can limit themselves to 4 attempts before moving on to the next username.
Of course, this entire process is automated with dedicated tools. Attackers are only alerted when they manage to break into an account.
Password spraying vs. other brute force attacks
Password spraying may seem similar to other brute force attacks at first glance, but there are key differences that set it apart.
Traditional brute force attacks bombard a single account with countless password combinations until the correct one is found. This method is “noisy” and easily detected.
These attacks often result in the target account being locked due to multiple failed attempts.
Password spraying, however, takes a quieter, more calculated approach. It is often considered a “low and slow” tactic. Rather than relying on computing power, password spraying relies on the human tendency to choose weak passwords and reuse them across accounts.
Another important distinction lies in the targets. Brute force attacks typically focus on high-value accounts, such as those of administrators or executives. In contrast, password spraying typically targets a broader range of accounts, increasing the likelihood of compromising at least one.
Creating a list of common passwords
In parallel, attackers need to create a list of common passwords such as “123456”, “password” or “qwerty12345789”.
These lists can also be found on the darknet. There is also an entire Wikipedia entry dedicated to the most common passwords . So if you have a password from that list, make sure to change it as soon as possible.
Launching the attack
Once attackers have a list of usernames and passwords, they can begin attacking accounts. Unlike brute-force attacks, which repeatedly guess an account's passwords, password spraying attacks target a large number of accounts, testing only a handful of common passwords on each.
This approach is very effective because it avoids triggering security systems that lock accounts after several failed attempts.
For example, they may decide to attack Facebook accounts. For each username on their list, they will try a handful of passwords from their second list. If none of them work, they move on to the list of austria whatsapp phone numbers next username. If the number of attempts allowed is public, they can further refine their attack. For example, Facebook locks your account after 5 failed attempts. Knowing this, an attacker can limit themselves to 4 attempts before moving on to the next username.
Of course, this entire process is automated with dedicated tools. Attackers are only alerted when they manage to break into an account.
Password spraying vs. other brute force attacks
Password spraying may seem similar to other brute force attacks at first glance, but there are key differences that set it apart.
Traditional brute force attacks bombard a single account with countless password combinations until the correct one is found. This method is “noisy” and easily detected.
These attacks often result in the target account being locked due to multiple failed attempts.
Password spraying, however, takes a quieter, more calculated approach. It is often considered a “low and slow” tactic. Rather than relying on computing power, password spraying relies on the human tendency to choose weak passwords and reuse them across accounts.
Another important distinction lies in the targets. Brute force attacks typically focus on high-value accounts, such as those of administrators or executives. In contrast, password spraying typically targets a broader range of accounts, increasing the likelihood of compromising at least one.