How hackers get past password attempt limits, and what you can do to safeguard your computer

There are ways to protect your home computer against ‘brute force’ and ‘dictionary’ attacks. — Dreamstime/TNS

Q: Many password-protected websites give you a few chances to type in your password correctly, then lock you out if you type the wrong thing. You then must type in a code or answer a “secret question” to prove who you are.

So why do I see TV shows in which smart criminals use a computer to test, say, 10,000 passwords a minute until they get the right one to break into a website? Why aren’t the criminals locked out after a few wrong passwords? – Jerry Roventini, Lakeland, Florida