The systems administrator notices that many employees are using passwords that can be easily guessed or are susceptible to brute force attacks. Which of the
following would BEST mitigate this risk?
A.
Enforce password rules requiring complexity.
B.
Shorten the maximum life of account passwords.
C.
Increase the minimum password length.
D.
Enforce account lockout policies.
Explanation:
Password complexity often requires the use of a minimum of three out of four standard character types for a password. The more characters in a password that
includes some character complexity, the more resistant it is to brute force attacks.
Incorrect Answers:
B: Reducing the maximum life of account passwords will require passwords to be changed at the end of that period. This will not make the new passwords less
susceptible to brute force attacks.
C: Increasing the password length will not make the new passwords less susceptible to brute force attacks.
D: Account lockout automatically disables an account due to repeated failed log on attempts. It will not make the new passwords less susceptible to brute force
attacks.Stewart, James Michael, CompTIA Security+ Review Guide, Sybex, Indianapolis, 2014, pp 292, 293.