When it comes to Brute-Force Attacks and security, the thought of it alone can give anyone nightmares. A brute force attack is an attempt at breaking into a user account, password, or something similar by trying many possible combinations in rapid succession. While this may seem like a difficult feat with almost no chance of success, hackers have found ways to make these attacks much more successful than originally anticipated. As a result, many websites and other systems have been breached as a result of simple user names and passwords that could be hacked in less than 10 attempts. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent bruteforce attacks with an easy 8-step strategy. If you’re looking for an insider look as to how you can protect your company from potential threats like this one, continue reading for some useful tips on what you should do right now!
Step 1: Ask users to change their passwords when possible
If a company or website has been compromised, it’s possible that the hacker could have acquired valid login information for the site. When this occurs, it’s best to change the password immediately to prevent the hacker from getting in and doing more damage. While this may not prevent a brute force attack, it will certainly make it much more difficult for the hacker to get into your system.
If the hacker tries to login with the original password and gets locked out, he may just give up and move on to a more vulnerable target. This may help you gain some time as you try to implement other counter-measures to prevent brute force attacks.
Step 2: Use stronger passwords for user accounts
The best way to defend against brute force attacks is to use strong passwords that are difficult to hack. While many people have their own personal preferences when it comes to creating passwords, there are a few tips that can help you create stronger passwords that are more secure and less likely to be hacked.
One of the best ways to create a secure password is to combine letters, numbers, and symbols into a single password. While some providers may recommend that you use special characters, this may not be a good idea. Special characters can be substituted for certain letters, which is something that hackers look for when trying to crack passwords.
Example of a Strong Password: &j$N=1YH9eEb4<uqt)|A
Step 3: Install a Brute-force Detection Tool
Another method to prevent brute force attacks is to install a brute-force detection tool that can detect and automatically block IP addresses that are trying to login to your system with many incorrect login combinations. If a hacker is attempting to brute force your system and the login fails, he may attempt to use a different IP. If the system you are using to protect your account notices this, it will automatically block the second IP and prevent the hacker from gaining access to your account. Brute-force detection tools have become extremely advanced over the years, and it is almost always recommended that you use one. There are many options available, even free ones, but the best ones have enough power to be effective.
Step 4: Block IP addresses with Firewall rules
One last method of protection you can use to prevent brute force attacks is to block IP addresses that are known to be used by hackers. While this may not work in every situation, it can certainly help to stop some attacks. If an IP address is known to be a hacker’s computer, you can block that address from being able to connect to your server. This will prevent hackers from being able to brute force your account, which will greatly reduce the chance of your account being compromised. Brute force attacks are often automated, so it is possible that the attacker will just try another IP address. However, if you block enough of these addresses, it can significantly reduce the chances of your account being hacked. You may want to look into firewall rules if you want another layer of protection from attackers.
Step 5: Harden your server with an auditing tool
An auditing tool is a program that scans your server for potential weaknesses. Once the tool has finished, it will report back all potential areas of weakness, including potential vulnerabilities that allow for brute force attacks. Auditing tools have come a long way since they were first developed. Today, there are many tools that are extremely powerful and can greatly increase the security of your system. By scanning for potential vulnerabilities, an auditing tool can help you find weaknesses that could allow for brute force attacks. You can then fix these issues before they become a real problem. By using an auditing tool and fixing any weaknesses, you can greatly increase the security of your system and prevent brute force attacks.
Step 6: Install a lock-out policy with authentication software
Another method to protect your account from brute force attacks is to install a lock-out policy with authentication software. This feature is often implemented as a lock-out policy, which will automatically lock out users after a certain number of failed login attempts. This can be very effective if you set the number of allowed failed attempts high enough. Lock-out policies are used to prevent brute force attacks because hackers often try to login with many incorrect login combinations. If the system notices that someone is trying to login with the incorrect password too many times, it will automatically lock out that login. If the lock-out policy is set high enough, it will prevent brute force attacks by locking out the IP or login combination after a certain number of failed login attempts. This will make it much more difficult for hackers to brute force your account and will greatly reduce the chance of your account being hacked.
Step 7: Make use of SSL Certificate
SSL certificate is a form of security that protects your online transactions from cyber crooks. It gives you peace of mind that your conversations between the browser and server are secure and private. EV SSL Certificates can secure ecommerce payment transactions on websites, as they help ensure the security of data transferred over the Internet. With an SSL Certificate, you can protect your traffic from prying eyes by securing the website with advanced encryption technology. Only CA/B Forum member certificate authorities are allowed to issue the SSL Certificate for public domains. SSL Certificates are not that costly, you can get Cheap SSL Certificate from SSL providers like CheapSSLWeb.
Step 8: Monitor for modifications to your source code
Brute force attacks may be the most common way for hackers to get into your system, but it is not the only way. When an attacker is able to get into your system, one of their next moves is often to modify your source code. By modifying your source code, a hacker can do all sorts of things. Some of the most common modifications include adding malicious code, redirecting visitors to different sites, and deleting important information. When your source code is modified, it can be difficult for you to figure out what happened. This can make it harder to block the attack, remove the modifications, and fix the issues. Lock-out policies can help to prevent brute force attacks, but there is a chance that the hacker will be able to get around it. If the attacker changes the source code, the lock-out policy will not be able to stop the attack.
Step 9: Don’t rely on just one method of protection!
One of the most important things to remember when trying to protect your account from a brute force attack is that you should not rely on just one method of protection. If all you do is hope that a lock-out policy, firewall rules, etc. will protect you, you could be in for a rude awakening. Lock-out policies and other types of protection can certainly be helpful, but they are not 100% effective against every possible attack. When designing your security strategy, you should aim to use as many methods of protection as possible. This will make it much more difficult for an attacker to break into your system and will greatly reduce the chances of your account being hacked. As you can see, there are many ways to prevent brute force attacks. While these attacks can happen to anyone, they can be greatly reduced by implementing the tips listed above. If you’re looking for an insider look as to how you can protect your company from potential threats like this one, continue reading for some insider advice on what you should do right now!
