Dictionary attack
Attempt to break a password by trying all possible words
A dictionary attack, or 'brute-force attack', is an attempt to break a password using a 'dictionary' list of possible words and phrases.
The dictionary in use here is not necessarily a normal dictionary, but may be customised to include common password tricks, such as 'adnim', 'passw0rd' etc. Some attack software may even be set up to try replacing vowels with numbers throughout the word list, and so on.
Such attacks may take some time, but are often the most reliable method of breaking passwords. The use of more complex passwords, including non-standard words, combinations of words and letters, other characters and blank spaces, will add considerably to the security of a password against this kind of attack.
