What Is Brute-Force Attack? How Hackers Crack Passwords Fast

A brute force attack is a trial-and-error hacking attempt on your accounts, data, passwords, etc., all confidential items that only you are aware of, online, at unusual hours, and at an unusual speed. It uses an approach to “guess” login credentials, encryption keys, etc., in order to find out password(s) of a particular individual or organization within two seconds to an infinite amount of time. 

This guide will discuss what a brute-force attack is, how hackers use brute force to crack passwords, real-world brute-force attack examples, the latest brute-force tools, cybersecurity best practices for 2025, and much more, to keep you and your loved ones safe from the most advanced hacking methods today. 

NOTE: A brute force attack only works when people set easily guessable passwords for them across various accounts. If you or someone you know does the same just because it’s easy to remember them this way, stop doing so immediately. 

With the necessary brute-force detection software, you can easily prevent brute-force attacks in 2025. This guide will cover every aspect of a brute force attack and how to keep yourself safe from them today!

What Is a Brute-Force Attack? Brute Force Explained

A brute force password hack is a trial-and-error automated method that guesses the passwords to the accounts of an individual or an organization, from pre-existing data, which combines commonly used passphrases together with the most commonly used characters in a particular password. 

For example, if an NBA fan chooses a password for their email account like Lakeshow21, chances are that their password will be guessed by the brute force mechanism within seconds. This is how hackers crack passwords in brute force, by using automation in guessing what could and would be a person’s password, especially if they have a password that can be easily guessed. 

Types of Brute-Force Attacks

So, a brute-force attack can be brutal, but do you know how brutal it can be? Have a look:

Simple brute-force (manual guesses, weak passwords)

The simplest of them all is the simple brute-force attack. In this attack, the attacker literally guesses the password(s) of the attacked by trying to recognize the weak links. In this type of attack, the criminal is sure that the person handling their own password would have kept a very generic, guessable password for the majority of their accounts. 

Dictionary attacks and wordlist-based attacks

Another type of brute force attack, and one most associated with a brute force password attack, is a dictionary attack. Think dictionary, think spelling bee, now think a combination of words, previously leaked passwords, and common phrases, generated with special codes and tested on hundreds of thousands of accounts, until the accounts are compromised. 

Attackers use special tools and codes that run through these lists to find a match, exploiting the human tendency to choose easy-to-remember passwords.

Hybrid brute-force (combining lists with randomization)

A hybrid password brute force attack is a sophisticated dictionary attack. It doesn’t just rely on words or previously leaked passwords; it creates a password comprising letters, characters, and numbers, with the same systematic approach as in a dictionary attack, just this time in a more advanced way. 

For example, guessing a password like “$icil!@” through advanced approaches. 

Credential stuffing (reusing stolen logins)

In this method of a password attack, the attacker uses username and password combinations from previous data breaches and online leaks. Through automated tasks, attackers store passwords and passkeys in an account and breach the target account(s) overnight. 

Reverse brute-force and targeted attacks

In this type of password brute attack, the attacker reverse engineers their methods to attack a desired account/password 

Brute Force vs Dictionary Attack Explained

With a brute force attack, the hacker tries every possible combination of characters to find and hack a password, which works out slowly but eventually, especially against complex passwords.

Meanwhile, a dictionary attack only guesses passwords with phrases and combinations that already exist, which doesn’t work against complex passwords.

Real‑World Brute Force Attack Examples

A real-life example of a brute force attack is the 2020 attack on the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) when hackers gained access to accounts for government services. As a result of this planned-out dictionary attack, at least 11,000 accounts were compromised. 

Another widely remembered example of a brute-force attack is the 2025 Microsoft Entra ID Campaign, in which attackers brute‑forced API keys and weak service accounts, gaining access to thousands of tenants.​

How Hackers Perform Brute Force Attacks

Hackers use tools to perform brute-force attacks. Some of the most commonly used open-source tools they deploy are:

Brute Force Attack Prevention and FastestPass

Defeating brute force hacking passwords requires layered defenses beyond “make passwords longer.” 

Here’s what you need to do:

• Limit login attempts (5 tries → 30‑minute lockout) on all services.
• MFA stops 99%+ of brute force successes since guessing a password does not guess your phone or hardware key.
• Use 16+ character passphrases generated by a password manager such as FastestPass. No reuse.

Conclusion

A brute force attack can be brutal, especially if you have been attacked, and by the time you know about how brute force attack cracks passwords quickly, you won’t even be able to act in time. However, with the right tools and the right strategy, setting up all of your passwords or updating them is required. FastestPass offers an industry-leading password manager for individuals and businesses who are dealing with password security problems at scale. All you need to do is remember a master password for all your passwords, passkeys, important details, and more crucial items that are stored on the cloud. Download the app for all your devices today!