What type of attack uses precomputed hash tables to crack passwords?

A rainbow attack is a type of password cracking method that utilizes precomputed hash tables, known as rainbow tables, to significantly speed up the process of cracking password hashes. These tables store the hash values of potential passwords and their plaintext equivalents, which allows attackers to bypass the computational effort required to generate hashes in real-time. When an attacker obtains a hashed password, they can quickly look up the corresponding plaintext password in the rainbow table, making it an efficient and effective method for breaking weak passwords that might be reused across systems.

In contrast, a dictionary attack involves attempting to guess passwords using a predefined list of potential passwords, typically coming from dictionaries or common password lists, but it does not rely on precomputed hash tables. Phishing attacks focus on tricking users into divulging sensitive information, often through social engineering tactics rather than cracking hashes. A denial of service attack aims to make services unavailable, which is unrelated to password cracking methods. Therefore, the nature of a rainbow attack specifically distinguishes it as the correct answer when referring to the use of precomputed hash tables for cracking passwords.