Types of Cryptography Attacks
Cryptography is the act of concealing information in transit so that only the receiver may see it. IT professionals accomplish this by encrypting information before delivering it and decoding it at the receiver’s end. IT professionals can encrypt data using either symmetric or asymmetric encryption utilizing an algorithm. Cryptosystems, like any other computer system, can be attacked by attackers.
- Bruteforce Attacks
Bruteforce is a simple and uncomplicated cryptographic attack that tries all potential passwords or keys to get access to data files. Cybercriminals carry out such attacks by employing huge computing power to guess the passwords that secure cryptographic data in a methodical manner.
As a result, the length of the key determines how long it takes to find the password in such attacks. As a result, Bruteforce attacks can only be effective if enough time is given. Any additional length in the key doubles the time required to successfully launch the Bruteforce attack since the number of potential combinations doubles.
2. Replay Cryptography Attack
Replay attacks are used against cryptographic algorithms that do not have temporal safeguards. In this case, cyber criminals intercept encrypted conversations between two people, request authentication, and replay the recorded message to begin a new session. To avoid replay attacks, use timestamps in communication and specify expiry periods on all communications.
3. Man in the Middle Attack
Man in the Middle Attacks, as the name implies, occurs when a cybercriminal stands between communicating parties, intercepting all of their communication, including how the encrypted session was set up. By responding to the initialisation request, the hacker infiltrates the session and creates a secure session with the communication’s source.
The malicious party then establishes a second secure session with the original receiver, posing as the originator with different keys. The individual then sits in the middle of the conversation, reading all of the traffic or information transmitted by the originator to the intended receiver.
4. Implementation Attack
Implementation attacks attempt to exploit flaws or vulnerabilities in cryptography system implementation. Such attacks are mainly focused on software code, mistakes, and other defects in the logic implementation of the encryption system.
5. Statistical Attack
These attacks take advantage of statistical faults in cryptography systems, such as the inability to produce random numbers and floating-point vulnerabilities. Statistical attacks are designed to exploit flaws in the operating systems or hardware that houses the functional cryptography instrument.
6. Frequency Analysis and Ciphertext Only Attack
The cybercriminal knows the ciphertext used in numerous communications encrypted with a comparable encryption technique when utilizing the Ciphertext only attack. The attacker’s task is to figure out the key used to decrypt the messages. As a result, they decrypt the information using a basic technique called frequency analysis, which involves counting the number of times each letter appears in the ciphertext.
To perform frequency analysis, cybercriminals use a variety of variations and methodologies. For example, knowing that the letters T, O, N, E, and A are frequently used in English words allows them to test many possibilities. Ciphertext only attacks are the simplest to carry out when compared to other cryptography attacks, especially if the malevolent individuals obtain the ciphertext. It is, however, difficult to execute with data with advanced encryption.
7. Chosen Ciphertext Attack
In this attack, hackers locate a chunk or portions of the decrypted ciphertext and compare them to the plaintext in order to determine the encryption key. This is clearly a difficult task.
8. Known Plaintext
In contrast to Ciphertext-only assaults, cybercriminals who launch a Known Plaintext attack have a copy of the already encrypted communication as well as the plaintext data needed to generate the ciphertext. With this information, the attacker can decrypt weak encryption codes and start additional attacks.
9. Chosen Plaintext Attack
The Chosen plaintext attack is similar to the Known plaintext attack; however, in this attack, the cybercriminal takes a chance by selecting a plaintext to match the created ciphertext. He can then decrypt more messages by analyzing both words to get the key and learning more about the encryption process.
