A brute force attack has become a primary concern for those who want to make their online presence secure. It is a form of cyber threat that is usually performed to attack any password-secured website or account. However, it is a simple and easy-to-perform cyber threat, but it can potentially harm any account or site. If you are willing to make yourself secure, then you should know what actuality it is and how to prevent yourself. In this article, we will tell you about what a brute force attack is and how to stay safe.
What is a Brute Force Attack?
A brute force attack is a cyber threat that uses errors and trials to somehow track passwords, encryption keys, and login credentials. This is the simplest way to get unauthorized access to persons’ accounts and companies’ networks and systems. However, it is easy to perform but has the potential to harm any type of network, system, or individual account.
Tactics to Stay Safe from a Brute Force Attack
Individuals who are willing to stay safe from a brute force attack need to know some essential tactics. In this section, we have prepared a list of efficient tactics to stay safe from a brute force attack. Here, you will get to know some amazing techniques to adopt to stay safe from a brute force attack:
- Password Length
- Password Complexity
- Limit Login Attempts
- Modifying the .htaccess File
- Using Captcha
- Two-factor Authentication
- Cloudflare
Password Length
Firstly, it is necessary for you to know how this works. This cyber-threatening type utilizes trials, combinations, and errors to crack the password of a specific account or site. It allows cyber attackers to get into your account or site and attack your assets to make them negative. Therefore, create a long password that will be difficult to crack or guess to make yourself secure. Many websites and platforms encourage their users to have an eight to eighteen-character-long password that is usually difficult to crack.
Password Complexity
Password complexity should be your second-most priority, which will assist you in keeping your online identity secure and safe. It is obvious that complexity reduces the chances of guessing the right password to access an account. You should utilize passwords like “ILOVEMYSOCIALLIFE” instead, you need to use some uppercase letters and some lowercase letters with numbers. Further, you can use passwords like “2@aAse#er” and “gh@al@12@34” to make the cracking process fail. The complexity will make them unable to respond to their abilities, which may help them crack the password in no time.
Limit Login Attempts
As you know, by utilizing brute force attacks, cyber attackers just guess the passwords and get access to the site. How many terms or trials do they need to crack the password? Yes, so many. You should limit the login attempts on your site admin panel or any other administration panel to keep them secure. Further, ensure that your password is saved on another location to log in to the site panel whenever you need. By limiting the login attempts, when the limit is exceeded, your site will send you an IP and will block the login for a specific time. This approach will help you to make your online identity secure and safe from any type of brute-force attack.
Modifying the .htaccess File
Guessing passwords will be so difficult for them now if you follow the above strategies. Now, it’s time to improve your .htaccess file to make them fail in guessing your password along with the .htaccess file. You are free to edit your .htaccess file to add some rules that will harden the unauthorized access of hackers. Further, you need to deny or allow IPs that you may allow to access your site. Allow IP1, allow IP2, and deny from all, the rule will enable you to provide access to your wanted IPs and deny from all.
Using Captcha
Captchas are usually images with codes used on sites to prevent robots from performing an automated script. These types of automated scripts utilize brute force attacks to harm individuals’ or companies’ positive images. It is you need to install a captcha on your site by following the steps:
- Approach the Admin panel on your WordPress Website
- Search for Plugins on Your Admin Dashboard and Click it
- Install the Invisible reCAPTCHA Plugin on your site and activate
- Further, login your Google Account
- Register the website with a Google Account by filling in the demands on the form.
- Acquire the website and Hidden Keys After Registration and Paste them into the settings of the Plugin on the website’s Dashboard
- Approach the settings of the Plugin and place it wherever you want
Note: The Plugin you have now installed has the capability to deliver services to WooCommerce, custom forms, and BuddyPress. Moreover, you are free to choose the Advanced Google reCAPTCHA plugin that is capable of supporting BuddyPress, and WooCommerce.
Two-factor Authentication
The two factor-authentication (2FA) is the most efficient manner to prevent a brute force attack. It provides users with an extra layer of security that minimizes the chances of getting attacked by cyber attackers. There are many ways to implement a 2FA-preventing process on your website, like installing plugins and more. However, the most reliable method to prevent a brute force attack is to install any WordPress plugin on your website. You can choose WP 2FA, Google Authenticator, and Wordfence Security to implement a 2FA-preventing process on your website.
Final Verdict
A brute force attack is simply a type of cyber-attack used to crack passwords. However, it is easy to perform but has the capability to damage the positive image of a brand and individuals. It has become necessary to stay safe from this cyber attack to keep your identity secure and safe. The above-mention tactics or strategies are very effective to make yourself safe and secure in this evolving world of technology. Companies, as well as individuals, need to adopt these strategies so no one can harm their positive image.
