Password Spraying Definition

Password spraying is similar to brute-force cyberattacks, but the key difference is that password spraying attacks involve cybercriminals trying common passwords for a single user account, designed to circumvent getting locked out of an account after a certain number of failed login attempts. Some of the common passwords used in a password spraying attack include “password,” “123456,” “admin,” or “qwerty.”

How Password Spraying Attacks Work

The success of password spraying attacks is dependent on the usage of weak passwords by users. A password-spraying attack can happen in the following way:

• The cybercriminal gets their hands on a list of usernames from the target company.
• The cybercriminal then tries a few common passwords against each username.
• If one of the passwords is correct, the cybercriminal gains unauthorized access to the corresponding user account.

Cybercriminals will utilize password spraying in the hopes of eventually breaching an account. They may also use passwords and usernames from previously leaked data from previous breaches. Password spraying attacks can be a severe threat, especially if they go undetected.

How to Avoid Password Spraying Attacks

Below are the critical considerations on how to avoid password spraying attacks:

• Use strong passwords or a password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords for all your accounts.
• Continuously monitor your passwords and change them periodically.
• Be cautions of any information or data you share online, and avoid clicking on links in emails from unknown senders.