dictionary attack

A dictionary attack refers to the general technique of trying to guess some secret by running through a list of likely possibilities, often a list of words from a dictionary. It contrasts to a brute force attack in which all possibilities are tried. ... The attack works because users often choose easy-to-guess passwords, even after being exhorted against doing so. Dictionary (and brute force) attacks may be applied in two main situations: in cryptanalysis, in trying to determine the key needed to decrypt a given piece of encrypted data; in computer security, in trying to gain unauthorized access ... (view more)