System for slowing password attacks

摘要

In general, the invention is directed toward techniques for controlling access to a network or other computing resource in order to slow down the execution of a password attack while providing minimal obstruction to normal network activity. The method includes generating a history of successful network logins, detecting symptoms of a network password attack, and activating countermeasures in response to the detection. The method further includes receiving a valid login request from the user while the countermeasures are activated and analyzing the history of successful network logins to determine whether the valid login request satisfies a match condition. The method further includes granting the user access to the network when the valid login request satisfies the match condition and denying the user access to the network when the valid login request does not satisfy the match condition even though the valid login request contains a valid username and a valid password.