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 A brute force attack is a method hackers use to guess passwords or encryption keys by trying every possible combination until they succeed.

In the context of CompTIA A+ certification, understanding brute force attacks is essential for grasping basic cybersecurity principles. Here's a deeper breakdown:

🔐 What Is a Brute Force Attack?

• Definition: A brute force attack is a trial-and-error method used to decode encrypted data such as passwords or PINs. The attacker systematically checks all possible combinations until 

• the correct one is found.

• How It Works:

  • The attacker uses software tools to automate the guessing process.

  • These tools can try thousands or even millions of combinations per second.

  • The goal is to match the correct password hash stored in a system's authentication database.

🧠 Key Concepts for A+ Students

• Password Hashing: Passwords are stored as hashes, not plain text. A brute force attack targets these hashes by generating guesses, hashing them, and comparing the result to the stored hash.

• Dictionary Attack: A type of brute force attack that uses a list of common words and phrases instead of random combinations. 

• Why It Matters

  • Security Risk: Brute force attacks are simple but effective, especially against weak passwords.

  • Defense Strategies:

    • Use complex, long passwords.

    • Implement account lockout policies after multiple failed attempts.

    • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).