Top 7 Password-Cracking Techniques Hackers Use.

In today’s digital age, we all know how essential our passwords are, they act as the first line of defense against any cyberattack or unauthorized access to our accounts and personal information. However, many people tend to use passwords that are easy to remember such as their names, their family member’s name, Date of Birth, Mobile Number etc. These types of Passwords are considered weak and can be easily cracked by hackers, making it easy for them to gain access to our accounts using one of the common password-cracking techniques and misuse our Personal Information, leading to serious consequences such as identity thefts, Financial Loss and etc.

In this post, we have discussed about Top 7 common Password-Cracking Techniques that hackers use, in order to make you more aware of potential threats and help you enhance your online security.

01. Brute-Force Attack

The process used in this type of password-cracking technique is that a hacker tries to gain access to a password protected account or system by repeatedly using different combinations of characters or passphrases until the correct password is guessed, To do this Hacker uses an automated program or script to generate different combinations of letters, numbers and special characters in an attempt to guess the correct password. This process can be automated to run continuously trying millions of combinations per seconds. These type of attacks are particularly effective against weak and easily guessable passwords.

Steps to be Safe from Brute-Force Attacks :-

1. Use Strong and Complex Passwords.
2. Limit login attempts in your Account.
3. Use Two-Factor Authentication.

02. Social Engineering

This technique of password-cracking involves the use of deception. To implement this technique hacker/attacker poses as a legitimate representative of a company or organization, such as a technical agent or a bank representative, and calls the victim requesting sensitive information or access to a computer system, claiming that it is necessary for providing assistance or resolving an issue. Once the victim provides this sensitive information, the attacker can use it to gain unauthorized access to the victim’s back account or other devices.

Steps to be safe from Social Engineering attacks :-

1. Delete any requests asking for your personal information.
2. Ignore and Block the calls asking for your personal Information, PIN, OTPs or Password.
3. Use Multi-Factor Authentication.

03. Phishing

Phishing is a widely used password-cracking technique and a form of social engineering attack that typically takes place through email or SMS text messaging. The attacker will send an email or message to the victim, posing as a representative from a legitimate company or organization. The message will contain a link that takes the victim to a fake website of the supposed company, which prompts the victim to enter their passwords and other sensitive information. Once the victim enters this information, it is sent to the attacker’s server, allowing the attacker to gain access to the victim’s password.

This type of attack is particularly dangerous because it often appears to come from a trusted source, making it easier for the attacker to trick the victim into providing their sensitive information.

Steps to be Safe from Phishing Attacks ;-

1. Set Spam Filter to high in your mail account.
2. Look for spelling and grammar mistakes.
3. Get Free Anti-Phishing Extensions.
4. Think before you click on any link.

04. Keyloggers

The fourth password-cracking technique involves installing a malicious software program, known as a keylogger, on a user’s device. This type of malware records the user’s activity, such as keystrokes and screenshots, in order to capture their passwords and other sensitive information. Keyloggers can enter a user’s device through various means such as opening a malicious email attachment, visiting an infected website, or downloading cracked software. Once installed, the keylogger can run in the background and monitor the user’s activity without their knowledge, allowing the attacker to collect and use their sensitive information for unauthorized access.

Steps to be Safe from Keyloggers :-

1. Use Strong Anti-virus Software.
2. Be cautious of emails from unknown sources.
3. Download Software only from trusted sources.
4. Avoid visiting Suspicious Websites.
5. Regularly keep your device updated.

05. Password Spraying

Password spraying is a type of password-cracking technique that differs from traditional brute-force attacks. Instead of attempting to guess the password for a single account, an attacker uses a list of commonly used passwords available on the web to access a large number of accounts. The attacker tries a small set of passwords against many accounts instead of trying many passwords against a single account, which is the approach in traditional brute-force attacks. The goal of password spraying is to gain unauthorized access to a large number of accounts with minimal effort, making it a highly effective and efficient technique for hackers.

Steps to be Safe from Password Spraying :-

1. Keep your passwords complex and Unique.
2. Avoid using Common pAsswords.
3. Keep password length greater than 8 letters.
4. Use Multi-Factor Authentication.

06. Rainbow Table Attack

Rainbow Table Attack is a type of password-cracking technique that exploits the way passwords are encrypted and stored on systems. When a password is saved, it is encrypted using a mathematical function known as a hash, which creates a unique representation of the password that is difficult to reverse. To bypass this encryption, hackers maintain a database that contains hashes of commonly used passwords, which is often compiled from previous data breaches.

In a Rainbow Table Attack, the attacker looks up the target password’s hash in their database to find the corresponding plaintext password. This method is only effective if the attacker has access to the hashed password and knows the algorithm used to generate the hash. The attacker can then use the recovered password to gain unauthorized access to the targeted account.

07. Network Analyzer Tools

Network Analyzer tools, such as Wireshark, allow hackers to monitor and steal plain text passwords that are transmitted over a network. This password-cracking technique does not rely on exploiting a system vulnerability or network bug, but instead requires physical access to the network. Once the hacker has access, they can use these tools to intercept and analyze data packets, including those that contain passwords. However, it is highly effective for attackers who can physically access a network and use these tools to steal passwords in plaintext.

Steps to be Safe from Network Analyzer tools :-

1. Avoid using Public Wi-Fi.
2. Use VPN to Encrypt your connection.

Additionally you can checkout our Previous post on Top 10 Ethical Hacking Terminologies that everyone must know to be Safe Online.

Conclusion, it is important for users to use strong and unique passwords for all of their accounts, and to use different passwords for different accounts. Additionally, users should be aware of the different password-cracking techniques that hackers use and take steps to protect themselves from these attacks.