How to Hack 5 GHz Wi-Fi Networks with an Alfa Wi-Fi Adapter « Null Byte :: WonderHowTo

Wi-Fi networks come in two flavors: the more common 2.4 GHz used by most routers and IoT devices, and the 5 GHz one offered as an alternative by newer routers. While it can be frustrating to attack a device that moves out of reach to a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network, we can use anAlfa dual-band adapterto hack Wi-Fi devices on either type of network.Wi-Fi is a radio standard that has been around since 1997, and the number of devices using it has made its part of the spectrum quite crowded. To relieve that stress, 5 GHz was introduced to offer fast Wi-Fi connections over similar distances as a comparable 2.4 GHz network. For hackers going after Wi-Fi devices, a router that provides both 2.4 and 5 GHz networks can be a real problem, as attacks requiring sending de-authentication frames can simply cause the target device to move out of reach to the 5 GHz network.Don't Miss:Research a Person or Organization Using the Operative Framework2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz Wi-FiIn the United States, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi can operate on any channel between one and eleven. While it may seem like a lot of room, the truth is that all but three of these channels overlap with each other, causing issues with interference and slow speeds when too many devices are on the same channel. The reason it happens is that each channel is really just the center frequency of a 22 MHz wide channel. That means only channels one, six, and eleven are far enough apart not to overlap.Image viaWikimedia CommonsAs you can see in the picture above, devices on channels one and two would interfere with each other and share a lot of space on the radio spectrum. That makes it challenging to pack too many devices on to the same network, primarily because most IoT Wi-Fi devices operate on 2.4 GHz only.The 5 GHz offering gives faster speeds, more channels, and more room for devices to transmit than 2.4 GHz, but it suffers from some limitations in range. Over shorter distances, the broader channels of 5 GHz can allow for faster data transfers, but not all devices support the frequency. Modern routers will typically offer both types to provide the most spectrum for congested Wi-Fi networks, and modern smartphones and laptops will likely support 5 GHz networks. That makes it equally likely that a device belonging to a target might be connected to the 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz networks, making it critical to be able to interact with both.Don't Miss:Track Wi-Fi Devices & Connect to Them Using ProbequestHacking 5 GHz Wi-FiTo get started hacking 5 GHz networks, we'll need a network adapter with the proper chipset. TheAlfa Wireless AWUS036ACSis a dual-band network adapter that offers both 2.4 and 5 GHz reception in a single feed line, and it can be combined with a long-range directional antenna like theSimple Wi-Fi 2.4/5 GHz Yagiantenna. While the AWUS036ACS driver is not plug-and-play with Kali Linux, it's simple to install on both Kali and Ubuntu systems.A close-up of theAlfa AWUS036ACS.Image by Kody/Null ByteOnce we have the drivers installed, hackers will find that many standard Wi-Fi hacking tools work perfectly well against 5 GHz targets.Kismet,Wireshark, theAircrack suite, andWifite2are all updated to take advantage of the ability to target 5 GHz networks. That means hackers who can't access 5 GHz channels are missing out on half of the fun, which may become an issue with devices that can transition between both types of networks.TheAlfa AWUS036ACSwired up and ready.Image by Kody/Null ByteWhat You'll NeedTo get started with hacking 5 GHz networks, you'll need a wireless network adapter that supports 5 GHz and preferably 2.4 GHz. TheAlfa AWUS036ACS 802.11ac AC600 Wi-Fi Wireless Network Adapterdoes a great job.If you want to extend your range, you can also look into along-range directional antennalike theSimple Wi-Fi dual-band antenna, which can pick up both 2.4 and 5 GHz from over a mile away.Don't Miss:Track a Target Using Canary Token Tracking LinksImage by Kody/Null ByteStep 1: Install Drivers on KaliThanks to popular demand, Kali Linux has included the RealTek drivers needed to control many 5 GHz adapters. The installation process on Kali is by far the most simple, but it's critical to update and upgrade your system before doing so. Keep in mind that on a slow connection, it can take quite some time.~$ apt update && apt upgrade
~$ apt dist-upgradeOnce your system is entirely up to date, you can install the drivers you need on Kali with the following command.~$ apt install realtek-rtl88xxau-dkmsThat should install the driver, and you can try plugging in the network adapter after a reboot to see if the LED on it flashes immediately. Next, we'll test out the functionality of the adapter.Step 2: Set Monitor Mode in Kali LinuxIf you can see the adapter when runningifconfigorip aafter installing the driver, we can move on to trying toput it into monitor modeto verify it works. First, we'll need to bring the interface down to put it into monitor mode. Make sure to replace wlan0 with the name of your wireless card.More Info:Check if Your Wireless Network Adapter Supports Monitor Mode & Packet Injection~$ sudo ip link set wlan0 downNext, we'll set monitor mode usingiwconfigin the following command.~$ sudo iwconfig wlan0 mode monitorFinally, we'll bring the interface back up after it's been put in monitor mode.~$ sudo ip link set wlan0 upIf all of these steps worked smoothly, then your card should be in monitor mode, and you may be good to go. To try out working with 5 GHz channels, we can move on to the next step.Step 3: Test the Card on KaliTo test if we've got the card working on Kali, we'll try to set it to a 5 GHz channel. First, we can try to set the channel with the following command in a terminal window.~$ sudo iw wlan0 set channel 6 HT40-That will attempt to set the channel to a 5 GHz frequency. In general, you can use this command to specify a channel in the 5 GHz range to listen in on. To set the channel to 149 with the channel width set to 80 MHz, we can modify the command to look like the example below.~$ sudo iw wlan0 set freq 5745 80 5775If it isn't working, then you can move on to the manual installation, which also works on Ubuntu.Don't Miss:Hunting Down & Cracking WEP NetworksStep 4: Install Drivers on UbuntuTo install the drivers directly, we'll be using the Aircrack-ng GitHub repo and DKMS. First, we'll need to install DKMS and download the GitHub repo with the command below.~$ sudo apt-get install dkms
~$ git clone https://github.com/aircrack-ng/rtl8812au.gitOnce it is installed, we can change directories into the repository by typingcd rtl8812au. Then, we just need to run a single command to install the driver from within the folder we downloaded.~$ sudo ./dkms-install.shYou should see output like below if it's successful.About to run dkms install steps...

Creating symlink /var/lib/dkms/rtl8812au/5.3.4/source ->
                 /usr/src/rtl8812au-5.3.4

DKMS: add completed.

Kernel preparation unnecessary for this kernel.  Skipping...

Building module:
cleaning build area...
'make' -j2 KVER=4.15.0-55-generic KSRC=/lib/modules/4.15.0-55-generic/build..........................
Finished running dkms install steps.Finally, let's run airodump-ng to test if the card can capture on a 5 GHz channel. The following command uses the--bandoption to set Airodump to scan through 5 GHz channels.~$ airodump-ng wlan1 --band aIf we've got the card up and running, we should start to see 5 GHz networks appear!Don't Miss:Cracking WPA2 Passwords Using the New PMKID Hashcat AttackCH 200 ][ Elapsed: 12 s ][ 2019-08-19 04:56

 BSSID              PWR  Beacons    #Data, #/s  CH  MB   ENC  CIPHER AUTH ESSID

 00:69:54:32:12:99  -55        3        0    0   1  54e  WPA2 CCMP   PSK  MySpectrumWiFi69-2G
 88:24:62:94:10:2A  -74        1        0    0  -1  54e  WPA2 CCMP   PSK  MySpectrumWiFi96-5G5 GHz Networks Are in Easy ReachWhile network adapters like theAlfa Wireless AWUS036ACSmay not be plug-and-play with Kali Linux, they are well supported and easy to get set up in only a few commands. Once you've got the drivers installed, you can easily use familiar tools like Wireshark to capture data on 5 GHz networks the same as 2.4 GHz networks. Thanks to these cheap and easy-to-set-up network adapters, a directional antenna can let a hacker manipulate 5 GHz networks from extreme distances on a budget.Don't Miss:How to Pick an Antenna for Wi-Fi HackingI hope you enjoyed this guide to getting started with hacking 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks! If you have any questions about this tutorial on setting up anAlfa Wireless AWUS036ACS, please ask below, and if you have a comment or idea for a future episode, feel free to reach me on Twitter@KodyKinzie.Don't Miss:Use MDK3 for Advanced Wi-Fi JammingWant to start making money as a white hat hacker?Jump-start your hacking career with our2020 Premium Ethical Hacking Certification Training Bundlefrom the newNull Byte Shopand get over 60 hours of training from cybersecurity professionals.Buy Now (90% off) >Other worthwhile deals to check out:97% off The Ultimate 2021 White Hat Hacker Certification Bundle99% off The 2021 All-in-One Data Scientist Mega Bundle98% off The 2021 Premium Learn To Code Certification Bundle62% off MindMaster Mind Mapping Software: Perpetual LicenseCover photo by Kody/Null ByteRelatedHow To:Buy the Best Wireless Network Adapter for Wi-Fi Hacking in 2019How to Hack Wi-Fi:Get Anyone's Wi-Fi Password Without Cracking Using WifiphisherHow To:Check if Your Wireless Network Adapter Supports Monitor Mode & Packet InjectionHow To:Hunt Down Wi-Fi Devices with a Directional AntennaHow To:Pick an Antenna for Wi-Fi HackingHow To:Share Wi-Fi Adapters Across a Network with Airserv-NgHow To:Spy on Network Relationships with Airgraph-NgHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Disabling Security Cameras on Any Wireless Network with Aireplay-NgHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Choosing a Wireless Adapter for HackingHow To:Hack Wi-Fi Networks with BettercapHow To:Select a Field-Tested Kali Linux Compatible Wireless AdapterHow To:Automate Wi-Fi Hacking with Wifite2Buyer's Guide:Top 20 Hacker Holiday Gifts for Christmas 2017Android Basics:How to Connect to a Wi-Fi NetworkHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Cracking WPA2 Passwords Using the New PMKID Hashcat AttackHacking Android:How to Create a Lab for Android Penetration TestingHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Getting Started with Terms & TechnologiesHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Getting Started with the Aircrack-Ng Suite of Wi-Fi Hacking ToolsNews:Apple Releases iOS 12.0.1 to Address Wi-Fi & Charging Issues on iPhonesHow To:Extend a (Hacked)Router's Range with a Wireless Adapter.How to Hack Wi-Fi:Selecting a Good Wi-Fi Hacking StrategyHow To:Scan, Fake & Attack Wi-Fi Networks with the ESP8266-Based WiFi DeautherHow To:iOS 6 Broke Your Wi-Fi? Here's How to Fix Connection Problems on Your iPhone or iPadHow To:Hack WPA & WPA2 Wi-Fi Passwords with a Pixie-Dust Attack Using AirgeddonHow To:Easily Store Your iPhone's Wi-Fi Passwords & Share Them with Anybody — Even Android UsersHacking Gear:10 Essential Gadgets Every Hacker Should TryHow To:Having Connection Issues on Android Pie? Turn Off 'Turn on Wi-Fi Automatically'How to Hack Wi-Fi:Hunting Down & Cracking WEP NetworksHow To:This Widget Lets You Open Wi-Fi Settings Faster, Share Passwords & More on Your iPhoneHow To:Save Battery Power by Pairing Wi-Fi Connections with Cell Tower Signals on Your Galaxy Note 3How To:Make Your Android Automatically Switch to the Strongest WiFi NetworkNews:Project Zero Finds iPhone & Android Open to Bugs in Broadcom's Wi-Fi ChipsHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Breaking a WPS PIN to Get the Password with BullyHow To:Turn on Google Pixel's Wi-Fi Assistant to Get Secure Access on Open NetworksHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Cracking WPA2-PSK Passwords Using Aircrack-NgHow To:Use Kismet to Watch Wi-Fi User Activity Through WallsHow To:Get the Strongest Wi-Fi Connection on Your Android Every TimeWiFi Prank:Use the iOS Exploit to Keep iPhone Users Off the InternetHow To:Track Wi-Fi Devices & Connect to Them Using ProbequestHow To:Load Kali Linux on the Raspberry Pi 4 for the Ultimate Miniature Hacking Station