Dictionary Attack occurs when the hackers try to obtain the password for securing the web site or area by every single word in the dictionary so that you can manually guess the password for accessing the confidential information. In terms of crypt analysis and computer safety, dictionary attack is a method that can overcome the code or confirmation mechanism that resolves its decryption solution or password. Hackers can conduct this attack try hundreds or sometimes millions that have likely possibilities, such as words from a dictionary.

Dictionary attack makes use of the targeted method by which is sequentially tries all the words in a comprehensive list known as a Dictionary (from a set list of values). Comparable to brutal force attack, were the huge part of the key space is investigated methodically, dictionary attack tries only those possibilities which most likely can be successful. 

There are normally derived from the list of the words for example dictionary (hence known as dictionary attack). Dictionary attacks do well because many people can pick the passwords which is short (7 characters or less), such as single words that can be find in dictionaries or even simpler, easily guessed variations of words, such as attaching a digit. However these are easy to conquer. To add the random character in the middle of the phrase which make dictionary attacks vulnerable.

There is a difference between a brute force attack and adictionary attack. The Brute Force Attack tries to find out the password by suing the every possible combination, whereas a Dictionary Attack uses precompiled list of words whose options can be tried which are likely to work.

Dictionary attacks are conducted on the home based computers in order to hack the wifi passwords or for unzipping winrar with secure passwords. The success of these attacks is largely because people keep very poor passwords that are comprised of ordinary words or names.

The effectiveness of the Dictionary attack depends on the types of the words they are being and the sequence in which they are tried. For example with the use of the lists of names can sometimes give way to quick results, this happens because of the most of the people use their own names as their passwords.

However, by choosing an effective password, the chances of such attacks can be eliminated.