Understanding the power of words is essential in every business decision, especially when it comes to cybersecurity. Today’s focus is on the term “Brute Force Attacks”, its history, its impact on your business, and how you can mitigate its risk.
1. Definition of Brute Force Attacks
Have you ever lost the key to a lock and tried every single one on your keychain? That’s similar to a Brute Force Attack. Essentially, it’s a trial-and-error method used by hackers to decode encrypted data such as passwords or Data Encryption Standard (DES) keys, by trying all possible combinations until the correct one is found.
2. History of Brute Force Attacks
Since the dawn of encryption dating back to ancient times, there have been attempts to break the code. The Brute Force Attack method is no different and as old as the concept of encryption itself.
With the advent of modern computers in the mid-20th century, the capability to perform a significant number of calculations per second gave birth to the automated Brute Force Attacks we see today. The evolution of computational power only adds to the threats posed by these attacks.
3. Business Impact of Brute Force Attacks
- In 2012, a popular professional networking site with millions of users suffered a Brute Force Attack leading to 6.5 million encrypted passwords being posted on a hacking forum. The event not only proved costly for the company but also led to a significant reputation hit.
- In 2016, a major email provider suffered a series of Brute Force Attacks, affecting 500 million users worldwide. The invasion resulted in a potential compromise of personal data, instilling fear and doubt in end-users and costing the company dearly in damage repair and reputation management.
- In 2017, a prominent global entertainment company with a vast digital library, suffered from a Brute Force Attack that led to unreleased television episodes being leaked online, causing considerable financial loss and tarnished the brand’s image.
4. Mitigating the Risk of Brute Force Attacks
Remember, security is always about layers. An important tip to mitigate the risk of Brute Force Attacks is to implement an account lockout policy. After a certain number of failed log-in attempts, the account should be locked for a pre-determined period or until manually unlocked by an administrator.
5. Call to Action
Protecting your business from cybersecurity threats such as Brute Force Attacks requires strategic expertise and robust leadership. To learn more about our security assessments, strategic consulting or Fractional CISO services Contact us for a free consultation.