How to crack a password

Question

What are the common techniques used to crack passwords, such as brute force, dictionary attacks, or exploiting weak hashing algorithms?

I’m interested in understanding the tools and methods involved, along with how to test password security.

Answer 1

There are many types of online and offline strategies cybercriminals use to crack user passwords. Here’s a concise breakdown of common methods:

Common Password Cracking Techniques

1. Brute Force Attack

   • Tries every possible combination until the correct password is found.
   • Counter: Use long passwords and account lockout policies.

2. Password Spraying

   • Attempts common passwords (e.g., "123456") across many accounts.
   • Counter: Enforce strong, unique passwords.

3. Credential Stuffing

   • Uses leaked credentials from breaches to access other accounts.
   • Counter: Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).

4. Dictionary Attack

   • Tries passwords from a precompiled list of common words.
   • Counter: Avoid using simple words as passwords.

5. Mask Attack

   • Targets specific patterns (e.g., "Name123").
   • Counter: Use random, complex passwords.

6. Spidering

   • Analyzes company-specific terms to guess passwords.
   • Counter: Educate employees on secure password practices.

7. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM)

   • Intercepts communication to capture login details.
   • Counter: Use HTTPS and secure networks.

8. Rainbow Table

   • Matches precomputed hash values to stolen password hashes.
   • Counter: Use salt with hashes for stronger encryption.

9. Phishing

   • Tricks users into revealing credentials via fake emails or websites.
   • Counter: Train users to recognize phishing attempts.

10. Malware

• Includes spyware and keyloggers to capture passwords.
• Counter: Keep antivirus updated and avoid suspicious downloads.

Tools Used in Password Cracking

• John the Ripper: Open-source tool for brute-force and dictionary attacks.
• Cain and Abel: Windows-based tool for password recovery and cracking.
• Hashcat: Advanced tool for hash cracking using GPUs.
• Hydra: Focuses on online brute-force attacks.