Protect Yourself from a Brute-Force Attack

Whenever we use an application connected to the internet, whether it’s a website, e-commerce store, app, or system, and that application is protected by a username and password, we are already targets of a brute-force attack.

So, do you know what a brute-force attack is?

In fact, at the very moment you’re reading this article, you may be the target of countless attacks, whether they’re successful or not. The goal of a brute-force attack is to guess a username and password through repeated attempts. These attempts can be made manually. However, there are now many automated tools that help with this process, reducing the time it takes to discover the credentials for accessing your application. Once a hacker gains access to your system, it becomes completely vulnerable, allowing the intruder to access privileged information or even cause damage that is often irreparable.

How can I protect myself from a brute-force attack?

To reduce the likelihood of our application being breached in a brute-force attack, here are some simple tips you can follow:

• Make sure the access URL isn’t indexed by search engines. For administrative panels, avoid default names such as admin, administrator, and so on;
• Limit the number of invalid login attempts and block any IP address that exceeds this limit;
• Always keep your operating system and software up to date;
• Don’t use common names as usernames;
• Use complex passwords with numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, special characters, and more than eight characters;
• Use a CAPTCHA system on your login form. I recommend using Google’s Invisible reCAPTCHA. It’s easy to install, highly secure, and easy for users to use when logging in.