Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH v11) — Question 309

Which method of password cracking takes the most time and effort?

Answer options

• A. Dictionary attack
• B. Shoulder surfing
• C. Rainbow tables
• D. Brute force

Correct answer: D

Explanation

Brute force is the most time-consuming method of password cracking because it involves trying every possible combination until the correct one is found, which can take a significant amount of time, especially for long and complex passwords. In contrast, dictionary attacks, shoulder surfing, and rainbow tables are generally faster methods that exploit weaknesses in password selection or usage patterns.