Well, in general usage, a dictionary attack and a brute force attack are considered different things. Whereas a dictionary attack attempts to exploit the well documented phenomenon that the vast majority of users choose passwords out of a very limited range of the available 'symbol space', i.e. dictionary words, or slight variations on them. Brute forcing is used when the dictionary attack fails; in this case, the cracking algorithm tests every possible combination of the chosen 'symbol space' instead of concentrating just on the dictionary subset of the symbol space. If you know the encryption or hash algorithm used, and you choose an appropriate symbol space, then both the dictionary attack or the brute force attack can be considered to be making educated guesses; you know that you are going to crack the pw under these conditions (by educated guessing), just that with luck the dictionary attack will get you there in a few seconds whereas an exhaustive search of the chosen ss may be beyond the computing resources you can bring to bear. All a matter of degree....
----- Original Message ----- From: "Security Newsletters-TM" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2002 10:34 AM Subject: RE: BIG MAMA !! > I thought that using a dictionary is still considered brute force. > > Where's the distinction, after the first 5000 attempts I think it's safe to > say you're not attempting educated guesses. > > -p> > > -----Original Message----- > From: Chris Berry [mailto:compjma@;hotmail.com] > Sent: September 19, 2002 12:37 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: BIG MAMA !! > > > Honestly I wouldn't recommend a file that large. What you want is one with > like the 30,000 most common words so that you have time to run variants. > Anything larger and you're better off just doing brute force. > > > >From: "Ansel, Kenny L. (Sytex Contractor)" > ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Subject: BIG MAMA !! > >Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 08:56:59 -0500 > > > >Its been a couple years...but... > > > >I have seen/had a dictionary file for password cracking...its called > >BIG MAMA or BIG MAMMA > > > >Its a 60MEG text file!!!!! > > > >I CANNOT FIND IT ANYWHERE!!! PLEASE HELP!! > > > >If you have this file, PLEASE point me in the right direction > >to download/retrieve it!! > > > >Thank you! > >Kenny Ansel, Sytex Group > >Network Security Instructor > >MCP+I, MCSE, CCNP > >608-388-8801 > > > > > Chris Berry > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Systems Administrator > JM Associates > > "I have found the way, and the way is Perl." > > > _________________________________________________________________ > MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: > http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx >
