Yes, a cryptocurrency wallet password can be recovered using a brute-force attack in theory, but the success of this method depends entirely on the password’s length and complexity.
While the best way to regain access to a wallet is always with your 12 or 24-word seed phrase (also called a recovery phrase), specialized password recovery is possible when the seed phrase is lost. This article explains how brute-force recovery works, its limitations, and how advanced techniques can significantly increase the chances of success.
If you’ve lost access to crypto, we’re here to help. Datarecovery.com provides advanced wallet recovery services, including password recovery. All of our services are supported by a no data, no charge guarantee.
To start a free evaluation, call 1-800-237-4200 or submit a case online.
What Is a Brute-Force Password Attack?
A brute-force attack is the process of systematically trying every possible combination of letters, numbers, and symbols until the correct password is found.
For computer passwords, software automates this process at incredibly high speeds, making millions or even billions of guesses per second. Of course, that’s not always enough — if the password is sufficiently complex, guessing it through brute force alone could take thousands of years.
The primary factors that determine the feasibility of a brute-force attack are:
- Password Length: Each additional character increases the number of possible combinations exponentially. Guessing a 6-character lowercase password is fast, but guessing a 12-character password with mixed case, numbers, and symbols could take trillions of years with current technology.
- Character Set: A password using only lowercase letters is far easier to crack than one that includes uppercase letters, numbers, and special symbols (!, @, #, $, etc.). The larger the pool of possible characters, the more combinations must be tested.
Because of this exponential increase in difficulty, a brute-force attack against a strong, random password isn’t practical.
Seed Phrases (Recovery Phrases) and Wallet Restoration
Before attempting password recovery, you should always try to find your recovery phrase (also called a seed phrase). This is a list of 12 or 24 words given to you when you first set up your wallet.
This phrase is the master key to your crypto funds; entering it into a compatible wallet will restore your access completely and will allow you to set a new password. The recovery phrase is designed specifically for this purpose and is the most reliable recovery method.
For additional guidance, read: How to Recover a Lost Cryptocurrency Wallet
How Advanced Password Recovery Works
When a seed phrase is lost, professional recovery services do not use a simple brute-force method. At Datarecovery.com, we use intelligent and targeted techniques that leverage fragments of your memory to dramatically narrow down the possibilities.
A quick note here: “Attack” is the standard language for these methods — we don’t like describing attempts as attacks, but we’re using the well-known terms for clarity.
Basic methods might include:
- Dictionary Attacks: Dictionary attacks use extensive lists of common words, phrases, names, and passwords leaked from data breaches. The software can also try common variations, such as adding numbers or symbols to the end of a word (e.g., “password123!”).
- Mask Attacks: If you remember parts of your password, we can configure the attack to focus only the parts that you don’t know. For example, if you know your password started with “ILovetheChicagoCubs” but can’t remember the last four symbols, we can instruct the software to hold the known part constant and only brute-force the final characters.
- Hybrid Attacks: These combine dictionary and brute-force methods. The software might take a word from a dictionary list and then append various combinations of numbers and symbols to it, a common pattern for password creation.
All of these attempts are run on powerful, purpose-built hardware, such as clusters of high-end graphics processing units (GPUs), that can perform trillions of calculations per second, far exceeding the capabilities of a standard computer.
In some cases, we’ve operated these computers for months before we finally found the correct combination — but if you’re committed to the process, we’ll do everything in our power to restore your crypto (and you won’t be charged until the funds are recovered; recovery rates for crypto cases are based on a percentage of the recovered cryptocurrency).
Crypto Password Recovery: How You Can Increase Your Odds
The success of an advanced password recovery attempt is directly related to the quality of the information you can provide. The more you remember, the higher the chance of recovery.
Before seeking professional help, take the time to write down everything you can recall about the password and your password creation habits.
- Base Words: List any core words, names, or phrases you commonly use. Think of pet names, family members, favorite places, or memorable dates.
- Common Variations: How do you typically change your passwords? Do you substitute letters for numbers (e.g., ‘e’ for ‘3’, ‘a’ for ‘@’)? Do you capitalize specific letters?
- Numbers: List any significant numbers you might have used, such as birth years, anniversaries, old addresses, or lucky numbers. Note whether you usually place them at the beginning or end of a password.
- Symbols: Do you have a go-to special character, like ‘!’ or ‘$’? If so, where do you usually place it?
- Length: Can you remember the approximate length of the password? Even a range (e.g., “I think it was between 10 and 14 characters”) is extremely helpful.
- Old Passwords: Provide a list of previous passwords you have used for other accounts. This helps us identify patterns in how you create them.
- Password Fragments: Write down any part of the password you are certain about, even if it’s just the first two letters or the last symbol.
The more of this information you can gather, the more targeted and efficient our recovery attempt will be. Our specialists will help you provide this information securely (please don’t include it on the case form — while our form is secure, it’s not designed for that purpose, and including your historical passwords will create a significant security risk).
If you have lost access to your cryptocurrency wallet due to a forgotten password, our specialists can help. Contact Datarecovery.com at 1-800-237-4200 for a free evaluation or submit a case online to begin the recovery process.
