Brute Force
An attack method that tries every possible password or key combination until the correct one is found.
A brute force↗ attack is a method where an attacker's software systematically tries every possible password or key combination until it finds the correct one, rather than trying to guess intelligently. Modern computers can attempt millions of combinations per second, which makes short or simple passwords vulnerable to being cracked in minutes or hours.
Defenses against brute force attacks include using long, unique passwords, enabling account lockouts or delays after repeated failed attempts, and requiring multi-factor authentication↗ so a correctly guessed password alone isn't enough to get in. A password manager↗ that generates long random passwords is one of the simplest ways to make brute-forcing your accounts practically impossible.