Brute force attacks are one of the most simple and effective means for threat actors to gain unauthorized access to an organization’s network, allowing attackers to steal sensitive data, spread malware, hijack systems, or conduct other nefarious activities.

Brute force attacks involve an attempt to access an organization’s network using legitimate credentials. Successful brute force attacks typically allow a threat actor to compromise a system undetected. According to cybersecurity firm ESET’s threat report, brute force password attacks were the most common attack vector in the third quarter of last year. While there are many types of brute force attacks, a few defense techniques prove effective to protect against them all, including: utilizing a password manager, enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA), using CAPTCHA, setting a limit for failed login attempts, and using network security tools. Read more at Tripwire.