brute force attack
<cryptography> A method of breaking a cipher (that is, to decrypt a
specific encrypted text) by trying every possible key. The quicker the brute
force attack, the weaker the cipher. Feasibility of brute force attack depends
on the key length of the cipher, and on the amount of computational power
available to the attacker. Brute force attack is impossible against the ciphers
with variable-size key, such as a one-time pad cipher.
Breaking ciphers with many workstations.
(2000-01-16)
Nearby terms:
BRUIN « brute force « brute force and ignorance « brute
force attack » BS » bs » BS2000
