Hackers are always trying to infiltrate sites using any method they can find; one such method is a brute-force attack, in which the hacker tries to access the site through successive attempts. This type of attack has also found its way into WordPress, where it is known as a WordPress brute force attack.
If you are looking for a solution to prevent these attacks and protect your account information, stay with us.
In the article “Types of Website Hacking Methods,” we mentioned brute-force attacks. If your website requires user authentication, you may be targeted by these attacks. Brute-force attacks are attempts to discover user account passwords on sites. Approximately 81 percent of cases that threaten web developers stem from this attack and from weak and stolen passwords. In this article, we first explain what this attack is and then explain the methods to prevent brute-force attacks.
What is a Brute Force attack?
Brute Force Attacks are one of the easiest ways to hack WordPress. The theory behind this attack is to make an infinite number of attempts to guess the password. Unlike many other hacker attacks, brute-force attacks do not aim to damage the internal components of websites. For example, SQL Injection attacks threaten your database’s security, and DDoS attacks make it inaccessible by overloading the system. In contrast, brute-force attacks target users with weak or predictable credentials.
An attacker can always crack a password through this attack. Still, the downside of this attack is that it can take a human years to crack because there are trillions of possible combinations, depending on the password’s length and complexity. However, while existing tools and software can intelligently and automatically guess user passwords, creating code to execute this type of attack requires little knowledge and can make several thousand password attempts per second.
The most common type of brute-force attack is the dictionary attack, which typically uses common usernames and passwords to access administrative accounts. Dictionary attacks typically attempt to log in using common phrases, such as “admin” and “123456.”
What is the purpose of Brute Force attacks?
The goal of a brute force attack is to gain access to a user account. The attacker’s goal is to gain access to a user account by trying to guess the username/email and password, which could be an administrative account, a password, or access to valid emails on a particular website.
Gaining access to a trusted account compromises the entire site, and hackers can use it to target other websites. Typically, the motivation for using a user account is to carry out a large-scale attack, steal sensitive data, shut down the system, or a combination of all of these. For example, by gaining access to an administrative user account on a website, hackers try to profit from it by adding spam, distributing malware, or phishing unsuspecting victims.
How are brute force attacks detected?
If someone appears to be repeatedly and unsuccessfully trying to log in to an account, it’s likely a brute-force attack. Signs of this attack could include:
- Same IP address and multiple login attempts
- Different IP addresses trying to log in to a single account
- Multiple login attempts from different IP addresses within a short period of time
What are the types of Brute Force attacks?
A skilled and persistent attacker will always find a way to break in. Attackers love easy prey, and if you throw a wrench in their works, they’ll likely walk away and look for another target. Here are five common types of brute force attacks.
1. Simple Attack
A simple brute-force attack is one in which hackers try to decrypt your password without the help of any special script or automation. With this attack, weak passwords and PINs are cracked within seconds.
2. Dictionary attack
This type of brute-force attack occurs when a hacker chooses a target and tries to guess the password of a second target by trying all possible combinations against their username. Random words from a dictionary, augmented with special characters and numbers, may also be used for this attack.
3. Combination Attack
Often, people use a combination of numbers that are important to them, such as their birthday or anniversary, and words for their passwords. A combination attack combines a simple Brute Force attack and a dictionary attack that tries to guess the login combination.
4. Credential Stuffing
The stolen credentials are sold and traded between cybercriminals on the web. The attackers then use this stolen login information to log in to other accounts on various sites the user is a member of.
5. Reverse
Brute Force Attack: A reverse brute force attack starts with a publicly known or stolen password. Then, the hacker uses their tools to search for usernames, account numbers, or keys.
What are the methods to prevent brute force attacks?
There are many ways to prevent brute-force attacks. The most obvious is a strong password policy. Every web application or public server should enforce the use of strong passwords. For example, standard user accounts should contain at least 8 characters, one number, one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, and one special character. In addition, servers should require frequent password changes. Since these attacks are not a vulnerability in themselves, keeping your software up to date is not enough to protect yourself. In this section, we will explore ways to prevent brute force attacks.
1. Lock accounts after failed attempts.
By limiting the number of login attempts per user, attackers cannot try more than a few passwords. A common way to limit login attempts is to temporarily ban an IP address after 5 failed login attempts, blocking subsequent attempts.
2. Make the Root User inaccessible via SSH. Brute Force SSH
attempts are often made on the root user of a server. Make the root user inaccessible via SSH by editing the sshd_config file. Set the options “DenyUsers root” and “PermitRootLogin no”.
3. Change the default port.
Most automated SSH attacks target the default port 22. Therefore, running sshd on a different port can be a useful way to combat brute-force attacks. To change to a non-standard port, edit the port line in your sshd_config file.
4. Use CAPTCHAs.
We’ve all gotten used to seeing CAPTCHAs on the internet. No one likes to understand something that looks like it was scribbled by a two-year-old, but tools like CAPTCHAs make automated bots ineffective. Creating CAPTCHAs is a great way to prevent bots and automated tools from performing actions on your website and will show them to attackers before they can log in. Since these challenges are designed to be solved by humans, robots are discouraged from solving them.
✔️ Keep in mind that using tools like CAPTCHA negatively impacts the user experience.
5. Restrict access to a specific IP address or range.
If you allow access only from a specific IP address or range, brute-force attackers will have to work harder to overcome that barrier and gain access. It’s like putting a security perimeter around your most valuable data, and only those with the right IP address are allowed access.
You can set this up by pointing a remote access port to a fixed IP address. If you don’t have a fixed IP address, you can configure a VPN instead. One downside to this method is that it may not be suitable for every case.
6. Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
Two-factor authentication is considered by many to be the first line of defense against brute force attacks. Implementing such a solution greatly reduces the risk of an attack. 2FA adds another layer of security to your login form. Once you log in with the appropriate credentials, you must enter a code that is accessible only to you. This code can be emailed to you or texted to your mobile phone.
The interesting thing about 2FA is that a password alone isn’t enough. Even if an attacker has cracked the password, they still need access to your smartphone or email client. Very persistent attackers may try to overcome it, but most of them are after simpler targets.
7- Learn the basics of site security.
In addition to the above, learn about the principles and important security tips to protect your site from all types of attacks.
8. Use unique login URLs.
Create unique login URLs for different user groups. This won’t stop a brute force attack, but it will make it more challenging and time-consuming for an attacker. If you change the login URL, for example, from /wp-login.php to /mysite-login, this can be enough to stop most automated and large-scale hacking tools. If you have a WordPress site, you can change the login link to your admin panel using a security plugin like iTheme-Security
9. Monitor your server logs.
Analyze your log files diligently. Admins know that logs are essential to maintaining a system. Use log management programs to help you perform daily check-ups and automatically track daily logs.
10. Use strong passwords.
Brute force targets weak passwords. A strong password has the following characteristics.
Unique: You should avoid reusing passwords. By reusing passwords, attackers can more easily target you by using your compromised credentials on other websites.
Long: Longer passwords mean more possible combinations. Five-character passwords are easily cracked on almost any computer in a few seconds; 10 characters take a few years, and 20 characters take almost forever!
Unguessable: A password may be easier to remember if it includes information about you, such as your name or the city you live in, but it also makes it easier for someone who knows you to guess. This also applies to common strings like “12345” or “PASSWORD,” which are commonly used in passwords because they are easy to remember. Really Simple Security Pro blocks the admin username, preventing anyone from logging in to the site with this easy-to-guess password.
By implementing methods to prevent brute-force attacks, you can prevent attackers from successfully guessing your password. The same principle applies to password recovery questions: if your recovery questions are weak, but your password is strong, attackers will easily recover your password.
Today’s online scams are carried out using both conventional and sophisticated methods. One of the simplest and most common of these methods is the brute force attack. You can prevent this attack by changing your online habits, such as using stronger passwords, not reusing them for other accounts, and changing easily guessable URLs. In this article, you learned about additional ways to prevent brute-force attacks, which I hope will be useful to you.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comments.
