Exam 312-49v10 topic 1 question 500 discussion

the hacker pulled off the SAM files from the domain controllers to then attempt and crack network passwords.

The other techniques mentioned: Syllable Attack: This is a less common term and typically refers to attacking passwords based on phonetic syllables, which isn't the primary method for cracking passwords stored in SAM files. Hybrid Attack: This is a combination of dictionary and brute force methods, where a dictionary attack is combined with common variations, such as adding numbers or symbols. While effective, it's more complex than a simple dictionary attack. Brute Force Attack: This method tries all possible combinations of characters until the correct one is found. It is very time-consuming and computationally intensive, especially for complex passwords, and is less likely to be the first choice compared to a dictionary attack. In the context of password cracking from SAM files, where common passwords and patterns are often used, a dictionary attack is a practical and commonly used technique.

D. Dictionary attack Explanation: Dictionary Attack: This method involves using a list of commonly used passwords (the "dictionary") to guess passwords. Since SAM files typically store password hashes, attackers use dictionary attacks to attempt to match these hashes with precomputed hashes of commonly used passwords.

Because a dictionary attack can be done quickly, many organizations require users to create passwords that have a special character, number, capital letter, and be eight characters or greater...

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/dictionary-attack Figure 6.3

The most likely password cracking technique used by this hacker to break the user passwords from the SAM files is C. Brute force attack.

C. Brute force attack