Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What is the hybrid attack utilized by Bob in his attempts?

1. Combination of phishing and malware

2. Combination of dictionary and brute-force attacks

3. Combination of SQL injection and XSS

4. Combination of denial of service attacks

The correct answer is: Combination of dictionary and brute-force attacks

A hybrid attack refers to a method that leverages multiple techniques to enhance the effectiveness of the attack. In the context of ethical hacking, combining dictionary attacks and brute-force attacks can create a more powerful strategy for password cracking. A dictionary attack uses a predetermined list of words or phrases, often sourced from common passwords, to attempt to gain unauthorized access. In contrast, a brute-force attack systematically tries every possible combination of characters until the correct password is found. By combining these two approaches, an attacker can start with the most common passwords from a dictionary and then seamlessly switch to attempting various combinations of characters, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful unauthorized access. This dual approach is particularly effective against weak passwords that may be part of dictionaries and also ensures that a wider range of potential passwords is covered through brute-force methods. By utilizing this hybrid strategy, Bob increases his chances of successfully breaching a target system, making it a practical and commonly employed technique among attackers.