What Is a Suspected Brute-Force Attack and How Can It Happen with New Passwords
A suspected brute-force attack happens when there are many failed logins. Attackers try lots of passwords, even if you made a new one. You may think new passwords protect you, but attackers can still go after your account. It is important to know how this is different from a password spray attack, because each attack works in its own way.
Key Takeaways
A brute-force attack uses lots of passwords quickly on one account to find the correct one.
Password spray attacks use a few common passwords on many accounts slowly so they do not get caught.
Look for lots of failed logins, weird IP addresses, and odd login patterns as signs of an attack.
New passwords can still be weak or leaked if they are easy, used before, or made by broken scripts.
Make strong and different passwords and turn on multi-factor authentication to keep your accounts safe.
Brute-Force Attack Basics
How Brute-Force Works
A brute-force attack is when someone tries to guess your password by trying many choices. Attackers use special tools to guess passwords very fast. In big companies, brute-force attacks often target authentication systems like Kerberos and NTLM.
Attackers may go after Kerberos by looking for pre-authentication failures. They try to guess usernames and passwords to find the right match. Some attackers use tools like Kerbrute to make these guesses faster. If an account does not have pre-authentication turned on, attackers can use ASREPRoast to get password hashes and try to break them later. Other tools, like GetNPUsers.py and Hashcat, help attackers crack these hashes and get into accounts.
With NTLM, attackers often use password spraying. They try common passwords on many accounts. Attackers also use the NTLM protocol to see which accounts are real. After they get into a system, they might use tools like Mimikatz or Procdump64.exe to steal more passwords. Sometimes, attackers use normal programs so they do not get caught. They can also move from one computer to another using stolen password hashes.
Tip: Brute-force attacks can happen very fast. Attackers may try millions of passwords quickly. You should always use strong and unique passwords to make brute-force attacks harder.
Password Spray vs. Brute-Force
Brute-force and password spray attacks seem alike, but they are not the same. In a brute-force attack, the attacker picks one account and tries many passwords quickly. In a password spray attack, the attacker tries a few common passwords on many accounts. This helps them avoid locking accounts and makes it harder to notice the attack.
Here is a table to show the main differences:
You can see that brute-force attacks are loud and easy to notice. Password spray attacks are quiet and harder to find. Both attack types can put your accounts in danger, even if you use new passwords.
Suspected Brute-Force Attack Signs
When you get a suspected brute-force attack alert, you need to know what to look for. These signs help you see what is going on and why your system sent the alert.
Multiple Failed Logins
You might see a big jump in failed logins. Attackers try to guess your password by entering many choices very fast. Security systems watch for this because it is not normal user behavior.
Most security rules say to slow down logins after 5 failed tries in 10 minutes.
Some systems lock accounts after 6 failed tries. The lock can last 30 minutes or until an admin unlocks it.
You may get alerts if someone keeps trying to log in, especially from strange places or odd IP addresses.
Note: Brute-force attacks can cause lots of traffic. Your app may slow down or show many login errors in logs. Automated tools can find these patterns and help you act fast.
You should also look for bot-like actions. Attackers use bots or scripts to try passwords quickly. These bots do not act like real people. They move fast, try many passwords, and sometimes use fake browsers. Security tools can spot these by looking for odd moves or traffic spikes.
Unused Password Attempts
A suspected brute-force attack alert may show that none of the passwords tried were ever used before. This means the attacker is not just guessing old or common passwords. Instead, they are trying many new combinations, hoping to find the right one.
You need to check if the attacker tried one password many times or many different passwords. If you see 100 failed tries with 100 different passwords, this is a brute-force pattern. If you see 100 tries with the same password, it could be a script mistake or a user error.
Brute-force attacks usually use many different passwords on one account.
Password spray attacks use one password on many accounts.
Security alerts often say "none of the passwords attempted were previously used passwords." This helps you know the attacker is not using old data.
Tip: Watching and logging all login tries helps you see these patterns. You can use tools that track failed logins, IP addresses, and the types of passwords used.
You may also notice other signs, such as:
Lots of login tries in a short time.
Tries from strange or suspicious IP addresses.
Automated guessing that does not match normal user actions.
A suspected brute-force attack alert means someone is trying to break into your account by guessing many new passwords. You should always check these alerts to see if the activity is a real threat or just a mistake, like a typo in a script.
New Password Vulnerabilities
Weak or Scripted Passwords
Attackers look for weak spots in new passwords. You might think a new password keeps you safe. That is not always true. If your password is simple, attackers can guess it fast. Some people use scripts to set passwords for many accounts. If there is a typo in the script, the same wrong password gets used again and again. This mistake makes your account an easy target for a suspected brute-force attack.
Here are some ways attackers go after new passwords:
Poor password policies
Lack of multi-factor authentication
No account lockouts or rate limiting
Use of common password patterns
Reused credentials from past breaches
Exposed cloud management interfaces or API endpoints
Weak security settings
Tip: Attackers use lists of common passwords or stolen credentials to guess new passwords. If your password is on one of these lists, your account is at risk.
System Flaws
System flaws can make new passwords easy to attack. If your system does not have strong security, attackers can try many passwords without getting blocked. Some systems do not limit login tries. This lets attackers use brute-force tools to guess passwords quickly.
Offline brute-force attacks are another risk. Attackers may steal password hashes from your system. These hashes are scrambled versions of your passwords. Attackers use special tools to guess passwords and check if the hash matches. They do this on their own computers, so you will not see alerts or failed logins.
Here is how offline brute-force attacks work:
Attackers get password hashes from your system.
They take the hashes to their own computers.
They use powerful tools to guess passwords and check if the hash matches.
This process can try billions of guesses every second.
Attackers often get hashes by sniffing network traffic or copying files from servers.
Tools like John the Ripper and Cain and Abel help attackers crack these hashes fast.
A suspected brute-force attack alert can mean someone is using these methods to break into accounts, even if the passwords are new.
Prevention and Response
Strong Passwords
What makes a password strong? You should use uppercase and lowercase letters. Add numbers and symbols too. Strong passwords are hard for attackers to guess. If you use a different password for each account, attackers cannot use one password everywhere. A strong password policy means there are many possible choices. This makes brute-force attacks almost impossible. For example, an 8-character password with mixed types can have trillions of choices.
Tip: Do not use simple words, names, or dates. Make your password long and random.
Multi-Factor Authentication
What is multi-factor authentication (MFA)? MFA adds another step when you log in. You might enter a code from your phone or use your fingerprint. Even if someone guesses your password, they cannot get in without the second step. MFA stops most brute-force attacks because attackers do not have both your password and your second factor. Many companies now ask for MFA on important accounts to keep data safe.
MFA uses things you know, like your password. It uses things you have, like your phone or token. It uses things you are, like your fingerprint.
Attackers find it very hard to get past all these steps.
Monitoring and Investigation
What should you watch for? You need to check login attempts and look for patterns. Security tools can warn you about a suspected brute-force attack. They spot many failed logins or strange times. Account lockout rules help by blocking accounts after several failed tries. This stops attackers from guessing again and again.
Use tools that track failed logins, IP addresses, and device names.
Look for logins from new places or devices.
Check alerts for signs of bots or automated attacks.
Investigate strange IP addresses, especially those using proxies or VPNs.
Note: Regular checks help you catch attacks early. If you see a pattern, act fast to protect your accounts.
A suspected brute-force attack can happen to any account, even if you just changed your password. Attackers use computer programs to guess passwords fast. If your password is weak or you do not use multi-factor authentication, your account is in danger. To stay safe, you should:
Make strong and different passwords for each account. Turn on MFA for extra safety.
Learn about new ways attackers try to break in by taking training often.
Doing regular security checks and learning more helps you find problems early and keep your accounts safe.
FAQ
What is a brute-force attack?
A brute-force attack happens when someone tries many passwords to get into your account. Attackers use computers to guess quickly. You can stop them by using strong passwords and security tools.
What should you do if you get a brute-force attack alert?
You should check the alert details. Look for failed logins, strange IP addresses, or odd times. Change your password if needed. Turn on multi-factor authentication for extra safety.
What makes new passwords still at risk?
Attackers can guess new passwords if they are weak or common. Mistakes in scripts or system settings can also make new passwords easy to attack. Always use strong, unique passwords.
What is the difference between brute-force and password spray attacks?
Brute-force attacks target one account with many passwords. Password spray attacks use one password on many accounts. Both can break into accounts, but they use different methods.
What tools help you spot brute-force attacks?
Security tools watch for failed logins, strange patterns, and odd IP addresses. You can use alerts, logs, and monitoring software to find and stop attacks early.