The document “How Are Passwords Cracked?” details various methods attackers use to compromise password security, explaining both technical and non-technical techniques. Here’s an extensive summary in English:
1. Interception
This method involves capturing passwords as they travel over a network. Cybercriminals often employ techniques like Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks, where they insert themselves into the communication between a user and a website to eavesdrop on or modify the exchanged data. In unsecured environments, such as public Wi-Fi, attackers can intercept unencrypted passwords using tools like packet sniffers. They may also use SSL stripping, downgrading a secure HTTPS connection to HTTP, making sensitive data, including passwords, easier to capture.
2. Searching & Brute Force Attacks
Brute force attacks involve systematically trying numerous combinations of characters until the correct password is found. These attacks have become faster with modern computing power, allowing attackers to use powerful systems or botnets to test millions of combinations in short periods. Often, attackers expedite the process by using databases of commonly used passwords or previously breached credentials, targeting weaker or reused passwords.
3. Stealing Passwords
Attackers can obtain passwords by stealing them through different means, such as database breaches, where encrypted password data is extracted and later cracked. Additionally, malware can be deployed to search for and transmit saved passwords from a user’s browser or password management software. Physical methods include accessing an unattended device or finding passwords written down on sticky notes or other physical mediums.
4. Keylogging & Manual Guessing
Keyloggers record a user’s keystrokes without their knowledge, capturing everything typed, including sensitive passwords. These can be installed through malicious software via phishing emails or malicious downloads. Manual guessing of passwords, though a simpler technique, can be effective when attackers guess based on personal information such as pet names, birthdates, or common default passwords like “123456,” which users frequently choose.
5. Social Engineering
This method manipulates individuals into revealing passwords through deception. A common example is phishing, where attackers send fraudulent emails pretending to be a trustworthy entity (like a bank), prompting users to input their login credentials on a fake site. Another form of social engineering is pretexting, where attackers create a convincing scenario to trick victims into providing their credentials, often impersonating support staff or other trusted figures.
6. Shoulder Surfing
This low-tech technique involves visually observing someone entering their password. It can happen in public places like coffee shops, ATMs, or work environments, where attackers may simply look over the victim’s shoulder or use tools like binoculars or hidden cameras to record login details.
The document concludes with a reminder to enhance security practices to mitigate these attacks, emphasizing the importance of encryption, strong passwords, and vigilance against social engineering and physical observation.
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