What are dictionary attacks and how do you protect against them?

A dictionary attack is a method used by cybercriminals to crack passwords, take
over accounts, and steal personal data.

In a dictionary attack, threat actors use extensive word lists and phrases to
guess the password for an account, including:

* Common words and simple variations
* Any words from a dictionary
* Lists of most commonly used passwords exposed in data breaches and leaks
* Popular pet names or names of fictional characters and other pop culture
references

Most internet user