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)