A hybrid attack is a method that combines the dictionary attack with brute-force techniques. It starts with a list of known words (like in a dictionary attack) and then mutates them by:

Appending or prepending numbers (e.g., password1, 123hello)

Adding special characters (e.g., P@ssword!, admin#123)

Varying letter casing or leetspeak (e.g., h@x0r)

From CEH v13 Courseware:

Module 6: Malware Threats → Password Cracking Methods

Incorrect Options:

B: Linear is not a password cracking method.

C: Symmetric refers to encryption, not password cracking.

D: Brute-force tries every possible combination but does not start with a word list.