Using a list of common passwords speeds up a brute-force attack by allowing the attacker to start with the most likely password combinations instead of trying every possible combination of characters. This method, known as a "dictionary attack," leverages known passwords that have been previously exposed or are commonly used.
By focusing on these common passwords, the attacker significantly increases their chances of quickly finding the correct password, as many users tend to choose weak and predictable passwords like "123456" or "password." This approach is much more efficient than random guessing, which could take an impractically long time.
