Background of Password cracking
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Internet Business -> subcategory Security.
Background of Password Cracking
Passwords are essential for accessing computer systems and are typically stored in databases for verification purposes. To protect these passwords, they are commonly transformed using a one-way function, often combined with additional data. When this one-way function does not involve a secret key beyond the password itself, it is referred to as a hash, and the result is known as a hashed password. Despite the cryptographic security of hash functions, having a hashed password allows attackers to verify password guesses by hashing each guess and comparing it to the stored data. Most hash functions can be computed quickly, enabling attackers to repeatedly try different guesses until they find a match and recover the original password.
Password cracking is the practice of recovering plaintext passwords from hashed ones. Attackers can obtain hashed passwords by accessing the password verification database or intercepting them over unprotected networks. Without accessing hashed passwords, attackers can still guess passwords directly on the system, though secure systems are designed to limit failed attempts and alert administrators of potential breaches. However, if an attacker acquires hashed passwords, they can test guesses independently and quietly. With multiple hashed passwords, the likelihood of successful cracking increases. Other illicit methods like social engineering, wiretapping, keystroke logging, and phishing are also common, but cracking specifically refers to guess-based attacks.
Cracking can be combined with other tactics. For instance, in a hash-based challenge-response authentication setup, an eavesdropper could intercept a hashed password and then attempt to crack it. There are more robust cryptographic protocols that avoid exposing hashed passwords during network verification. These protocols either secure them during transmission with a strong key or employ zero-knowledge password proofs.
Overall, understanding password cracking highlights the importance of using advanced security measures to protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorized access.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Background of Password cracking.
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