dictionary attack

An over the shoulder perspective of a puzzzled looking Corgi looking at a computer screen with the error message "Locked Out!" on it.

If Too Many Bad Password Attempts Cause Account Locks, How Do Hackers Hack In?

Ever wonder why hackers don’t get locked out after a few failed password attempts, the way you do? It turns out they rarely even try. I’ll describe the sneakier “back door” methods — data breaches, malware, and phishing — that hackers use to break into accounts, and what you can do to stop them.

What’s a Dictionary Attack?

A dictionary attack is a common brute-force way of achieving a hacker’s goal. The goal of a dictionary attack could range from compromising your system to sending spam.

A split image: on the left, an older Corgi typing at a vintage typewriter with a two sheets of paper with a sheet of blue carbon paper peeking out; on the right, a younger Corgi typing into a modern laptop showing an email window with the Bcc field highlighted.

Why Do I Get Spam Not Addressed to Me?

Getting spam that isn’t addressed to you isn’t a mistake. Spammers use a simple email feature to hide who else they’re sending it to. I’ll describe how it works, why it still reaches you, and what to do about it.