brute-force attack

[ broot-fawrs uh-tak ]

noun

, Computers.

1. a computer hacking technique in which every possible combination of characters is tried until the sought-after password or encryption key is found:

   A malicious hacker may resort to a brute-force attack to gain entry to your account.

Word History and Origins

Origin of brute-force attack¹

First recorded in 2000–05