We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Security

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Password Cracking?

Daniel Liden
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 13,082
Share

Password cracking is a general term describing a group of techniques that are used to obtain the password to a data system. Password cracking specifically refers to processes by which one obtains a password from existing data; simply tricking an individual into giving up a password, as through phishing, is not considered to be password cracking. Guessing a password based on pre-existing knowledge of the computer system's owner, however, is considered cracking, as the password is not known in advance. Most methods of obtaining passwords, however, involve repeated guessing or exploiting security weaknesses in the computer system.

There are several different methods of guessing an individual's password. One can, for example, use knowledge of the person whose system he is attempting to crack to predict possible passwords. The names of loved ones or pets, significant dates, phone numbers, significant places, and common usernames are all notorious, easily guessable passwords.

Another method of guess-based password cracking is known as a dictionary attack. Many people use passwords that can be found in a dictionary or words followed by a single number. Many cracking programs categorically attempt to enter dictionary words and number combinations in order to crack a password. Dictionary attacks are generally useless against complex passwords, but they tend to be highly effective against any single-word password.

A brute-force attack is another method of password cracking that is significantly more powerful than a dictionary attack. A brute-force attack program will try every possible character combination until it sets upon the proper password. This is highly time consuming as there are countless possible letter, number, and symbol combinations than an individual could use for a password. As computer processors become more and more powerful, though, it is an increasingly plausible method of password cracking.

Other methods of password cracking involve cracking the computer system's cryptographic hash function. A cryptographic hash function is a procedure that converts a password to a uniformly sized bit string. If the hash can be cracked, it may be possible to reverse-engineer the password. Most hash functions, however, are highly complex and cannot be cracked without significant time and effort.

While a skilled computer security expert can crack many varieties of passwords, there are steps that one can take to avoid password cracking attempts. Complex passwords are always better than simple ones. Passwords that use uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols are much harder to crack than passwords using only one or two of those options. A brute force attack would need to work through many more possibilities before it could come upon the correct password.

Share
EasyTechJunkie is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Daniel Liden
By Daniel Liden
Daniel Liden, a talented writer with a passion for cutting-edge topics and data analysis, brings a unique perspective to his work. With a diverse academic background, he crafts compelling content on complex subjects, showcasing his ability to effectively communicate intricate ideas. He is skilled at understanding and connecting with target audiences, making him a valuable contributor.
Discussion Comments
Daniel Liden
Daniel Liden
Daniel Liden, a talented writer with a passion for cutting-edge topics and data analysis, brings a unique perspective to...
Learn more
Share
https://www.easytechjunkie.com/what-is-password-cracking.htm
Copy this link
EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.