Birthday Attacks Explained | Brute Force vs. Birthday Attack

Welcome to Shree Learning Academy! In this video, we unravel the intriguing concept of birthday attacks in cryptography, which stem from the surprising mathematical oddity known as the birthday paradox. Join us as we explore the connections between statistical probability and digital security. Birthday Attacks Explained | Brute Force vs. Birthday Attack Timestamps: 00:12 What is the Birthday Paradox? 01:31 What is Birthday Attack? 02:56 Birthday Attack in Password Cracking 03:56 How to prevent Birthday Attack? The birthday paradox demonstrates that within a group of just 23 people, there is approximately a 50% chance of two individuals sharing the same birthday. This phenomenon seems counter-intuitive considering the large number of unique birthdays. We delve into the mathematics behind this paradox and how it affects the likelihood of shared birthdays within a group. Connecting this statistical anomaly to cryptography, we introduce the concept of a birthday attack. A birthday attack is a type of brute force attack that capitalizes on the birthday paradox. In cryptographic hashing, where a finite set of possible hashed values exists, the probabilities of finding collisions dramatically increase when examining a large number of possible pairs. We differentiate between brute force attacks and birthday attacks, highlighting the more efficient nature of birthday attacks. Instead of searching for a specific hash value, a birthday attack seeks any pair of inputs that produce the same hash (hash collision). The mathematics underlying the birthday paradox reveal that finding such a pair is highly probable after a specific number of attempts, making it a powerful attack method. We focus on the application of birthday attacks in password cracking. When passwords are stored as hashed values, attackers who gain access to the hashed password list can generate numerous potential passwords, hash them, and compare them to the stolen hashes. The more hashes the attacker generates, the higher the chance of finding a match, similar to the birthday paradox. The impact of birthday attacks on cryptographic systems is substantial. To withstand attacks from adversaries with substantial computational resources, systems must be designed with stronger hash functions that produce larger hash outputs. Salting, the use of random data as an additional input to a hash function, adds an extra layer of protection by making pre-computed tables of hashes less efficient. In conclusion, the birthday paradox serves as a reminder of the intricate connections between mathematics and digital security. The ingenious birthday attack leverages probability to crack encryption keys and passwords, emphasizing the need for continuous innovation in security measures. Join us at Shree Learning Academy as we explore the fascinating world of digital defense. For Private Coaching Contact Us On WhatsApp: +91 9892614730 _______________________________________________________ Written Explanation link: https://shreelearningacademy.com/tutorials/cyber_security/birthday.html Quiz Link: https://shreelearningacademy.com/quizzes/cybersecurity/birthday_quiz.html _______________________________________________________ Website: https://www.shreelearningacademy.com Mail: info@shreelearningacademy.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shree-learning-academy/ Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/shreelearningacademy/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShreeLearning Facebook: https://fb.me/shreelearningacademy Music we use: "Dreams" by Bensound.com Download link: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music/track/dreams-chill-out #BirthdayAttacks #BirthdayParadox #Cryptography #DigitalSecurity #PasswordCracking #HashCollision