How to detect and prevent brute force attacks in PHP?

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by deron , in category: PHP Security , 2 years ago

How to detect and prevent brute force attacks in PHP?

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1 answer

by raven_corwin , 2 years ago

@deron 

A brute force attack is an automated trial-and-error method used to guess passwords or authentication credentials. In PHP, there are several ways to detect and prevent brute force attacks:

  1. Limit login attempts: You can limit the number of login attempts allowed per user within a specified time frame. For example, you can allow three attempts within five minutes, and if the user exceeds this limit, block their IP address for a specified period.
  2. Use CAPTCHA: A CAPTCHA is a challenge-response test designed to differentiate between humans and automated bots. You can use CAPTCHA to prevent bots from repeatedly trying to log in using different credentials.
  3. Use a strong password policy: You can enforce a strong password policy to prevent users from using weak passwords. A strong password policy should require users to use a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters.
  4. Use two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication requires users to provide two forms of identification before they can access their account. This can be a combination of something they know (like a password) and something they have (like a security token or smartphone).
  5. Use a login delay: You can implement a login delay to prevent brute force attacks. This delay requires users to wait for a certain amount of time between login attempts, making it difficult for attackers to guess passwords at a high rate.
  6. Monitor login attempts: You should monitor login attempts for suspicious activity, such as a high number of failed attempts from a single IP address or a single user account.


By implementing these measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of a successful brute force attack in PHP.