Define a brute force attack in cybersecurity terms.

A brute force attack in cybersecurity is characterized as an attempt to gain unauthorized access by systematically trying all possible passwords or keys. This method relies on the sheer computational power available to iterate through various combinations until the correct password is discovered.

The effectiveness of a brute force attack is closely tied to several factors, such as the strength of the password being targeted and the processing capabilities of the attacking system. Simple or weak passwords may be cracked relatively quickly, while complex passwords may require significantly more time and resources.

Other options describe different types of cyber threats or attacks that focus on varying aspects of security, such as bypassing firewalls, social engineering tactics to trick users into providing information, or exploiting software vulnerabilities, none of which align with the specific characteristics of a brute force attack. This emphasis on the methodology of trying every possible combination to break into a system is what distinctly defines a brute force attack in the context of cybersecurity.