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A dictionary attack is a hacking strategy that uses every word in a dictionary to identify passwords and gain control of networks or email accounts. It can be effective for simple passwords, but complex passphrases are more secure. The attack can also be used to generate email addresses for spam campaigns or virus spreading. Hackers use various dictionaries and software to increase success rates.
A dictionary attack is an attempt to use literally every word in the dictionary as a means of identifying the password associated with an encrypted message or gaining control of a corporate network or even an email account. The idea is that by launching this type of hacking strategy, the hacker can gain control of those assets and use them for any purpose he wishes. While this approach can be very effective when a single word is used for account security, the method is much less likely to succeed if the account owner has used a somewhat complicated passphrase as security for the account.
The basic purpose of a dictionary attack is to engage in what is known as password cracking. For example, the attack can be launched to isolate the password associated with a specific email account. Once this is done, the hacker can access the address book associated with that account and replicate the process with those addresses. The result of this email harvesting can be the creation of lists that are sold to marketers or possibly the use of those email accounts to create spam campaigns or spread viruses via seemingly harmless attachments that appear to come from a trusted source.
In order to increase the success potential, hackers will try to use as many words as possible when planning a dictionary attack. This means that along with a traditional dictionary, words found in various types of industry or technical dictionaries and glossaries are added to the database used in the attempt. In addition, dictionaries for different languages \u200b\u200bare also added to the resource, which serve to increase the possibilities of associating a password with an e-mail account or message.
A second process associated with a dictionary attack involves using software to scramble its contents as a means of blocking what would appear to be random collections of letters. In some cases, the hacker may also include numbers and various types of punctuation in this random mix, making it possible to identify more complex passwords.
An alternative form of dictionary attack does not focus on cracking passwords as a means of logging into networks or email accounts. Instead, the hacker uses the software to generate volumes of potential email addresses, then uses those addresses in some type of spam campaign. The idea is that while some of these generated addresses may not exist, others will be active and capable of receiving the spam message. This strategy can be used as a marketing ploy or used to spread viruses via a spam email attachment.
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