A security setting that locks a profile after a certain number of unsuccessful login attempts is designed to mitigate brute force attacks. In such attacks, an adversary systematically tries numerous combinations of usernames and passwords to gain unauthorized access. By locking the account after several failed attempts, it prevents the attacker from continuing to try different password combinations, thus thwarting the brute force method.

References = This security measure is a common recommendation in cybersecurity practices, including those suggested by ISACA, to protect against brute force attacks. It is an effective control to prevent attackers from continuously attempting to guess a user’s credentials123.