CISSP Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Guide

A Hybrid Attack in the context of password security is characterized by the technique of appending or prepending characters to known dictionary words. This method combines elements of both dictionary attacks and brute-force attacks. In a standard dictionary attack, only a list of common passwords or words is attempted. In contrast, a hybrid approach expands the possibilities by modifying those entries through the addition of symbols, numbers, or other characters, thereby increasing the likelihood of successfully cracking a password.

This method is effective because many users often base their passwords on common words or phrases, which are already part of the dictionary attacks, and then make minor modifications to them. By systematically testing these variations, hybrid attacks can exploit common user behaviors in password creation and therefore have a higher chance of success compared to simpler attack methods.

Other options describe different aspects of password security or attack methodologies. For instance, using random characters alone does not take into account user behavior and is less strategic than a hybrid attack. Focusing purely on social engineering tactics involves manipulating individuals rather than cracking passwords through computational means. Employing machine learning algorithms introduces a sophisticated layer of guessing patterns but does not specifically align with the characteristics of a hybrid attack, which is more about systematic alterations to existing words rather than analyzing past data for predictive guessing