How to Crack Wi-Fi Passwords—For Beginners! « Null Byte :: WonderHowTo

An internet connection has become a basic necessity in our modern lives. Wireless hotspots (commonly known as Wi-Fi) can be found everywhere!If you have a PC with awireless network card, then you must have seen many networks around you. Sadly, most of these networks are secured with a network security key.Have you ever wanted to use one of these networks? You must have desperately wanted to check your mail when you shifted to your new house. The hardest time in your life is when your internet connection is down.Cracking those Wi-Fi passwords is your answer to temporary internet access. This is a comprehensive guide which will teach even complete beginners how to crack WEP encrypted networks, easily.If it's WPA2-PSK passwords you need to crack, you can useaircrack-ngorcoWPAtty.Table of ContentsHow are wireless networks secured?What you'll needSetting up CommView for Wi-FiSelecting the target network and capturing packetsWaiting...Now the interesting part... CRACKING!Are you a visual learner?Step 1: How Are Wireless Networks Secured?In a secured wireless connection, internet data is sent in the form of encrypted packets. These packets are encrypted with network security keys. If you somehow manage to get hold of the key for a particular wireless network you virtually have access to the wireless internet connection.Broadly speaking, there aretwo main types of encryptions used.WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)This is the most basic form of encryption. This has become an unsafe option as it is vulnerable and can be cracked with relative ease. Although this is the case many people still use this encryption.WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access)This is the more secure alternative. Efficient cracking of the passphrase of such a network requires the use of a wordlist with the common passwords. In other words you use the old-fashioned method of trial and error to gain access. Variations include WPA-2 which is the most secure encryption alternative till date. Although this can also be cracked using a wordlist if the password is common, this is virtually uncrackable with a strong password. That is, unless the WPA PIN is still enabled (as is the default on many routers).Hacking WEP passwords is relatively fast, so we'll focus on how to crack them for this guide. If the only networks around you use WPA passwords, you'll want to follow this guide onhow to crack WPA Wi-Fi passwordsinstead.Step 2: What You'll NeedA compatible wireless adapter:This is by far the biggest requirement.The wireless card of your computer has to be compatible with the software CommVIew. This ensures that the wireless card can go into monitor mode which is essential for capturing packets.Click hereto check if your wireless card is compatibleCommView for Wi-Fi:This software will be used to capture the packets from the desired network adapter.Click hereto download the software from their website.Aircrack-ng GUI:After capturing the packets this software does the actual cracking.Click hereto download the software from their website.A little patience is vital.Step 3: Setting Up CommView for Wi-FiDownload the zip file of CommView for Wi-Fi from the website. Extract the file and run setup.exe to install CommView for Wi-Fi. When CommView opens for the first time it has a driver installation guide. Follow the prompts to install the driver for your wireless card.Run CommView for Wi-Fi.Click the play icon on the top left of the application window.Start scanning for wireless networks.CommView now starts scanning for wireless networks channel by channel. After a few minutes you will have a long list of wireless networks with their security type and signal. Now it is time to choose your target network.Step 4: Selecting the Target Network and Capturing PacketsA few things to keep in mind before choosing the target wireless network:This tutorial is only for WEP encrypted networks, so make sure you select a network with WEP next to its name. If you need to crack a WPA encrypted network, followthis tutorialinstead.Choose a network with the highest signal.Each network will have its details in the right column.Make sure the WEP network you are choosing has the lowest dB (decibel) value.Once you have chosen your target network, select it and clickCaptureto start capturing packets from the desired channel.Now you might notice that packets are being captured from all the networks in the particular channel. To capture packets only from the desired network follow the given steps.Right click the desired network and click on copy MAC Address.Switch to the Rules tab on the top.On the left hand side choose MAC Addresses.Enable MAC Address rules.For 'Action' select 'capture' and for 'Add record' select 'both'.Now paste the mac address copied earlier in the box below.We need to capture only data packets for cracking. So, selectDon the bar at the top of the window and deselectM(Management packets) andC(Control packets).Now you have to save the packets so that they can be cracked later. To do this:Go to the logging tab on top and enable auto saving.Set Maximum Directory Size to 2000.Set Average Log File Size to 20.Step 5: Waiting...Now the boring part- WAITING!NOTE:The amount of time taken to capture enough data packets depends on the signal and the networks usage. The minimum number of packets you should capture should be 100,000 for a decent signal.After you think you have enough packets (at least 100,000 packets), you'll need to export them.Go to the log tab and click on concatenate logs.Select all the logs that have been saved.Do not close CommView for Wi-Fi.Now navigate to the folder where the concatenated logs have been saved.Open the log file.Select File- Export -Wire shark tcpdump format and choose any suitable destination.This will save the logs with a .cap extension to that location.Step 6: Now the Interesting Part... CRACKING!Download Aircrack-ng and extract the zip file.Open the folder and navigate to 'bin'.Run Aircrack-ng GUI.Choose WEP.Open your .cap file that you had saved earlier.Click Launch.In the command prompt type in the index number of your target wireless network.Wait for a while. If everything goes fine, the wireless key will be shown.You may also receive a request to try with more packets. In this case wait until more packets have been captured and repeat the steps to be performed after capturing packets.BEST OF LUCK!Step 7: Are You a Visual Learner?Just in case you didn't understand, you can watch this video walk-through.Please enable JavaScript to watch this video.Want 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 image via Shutterstock (1,2)RelatedHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Selecting a Good Wi-Fi Hacking StrategyHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Cracking WPA2-PSK Passwords Using Aircrack-NgHow To:Crack WPA & WPA2 Wi-Fi Passwords with PyritHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Get Anyone's Wi-Fi Password Without Cracking Using WifiphisherHow To:iOS 6 Broke Your Wi-Fi? Here's How to Fix Connection Problems on Your iPhone or iPadHow To:The Beginner's Guide to Defending Against Wi-Fi HackingHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Cracking WPA2 Passwords Using the New PMKID Hashcat AttackHow To:Hack Wi-Fi Networks with BettercapHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Getting Started with the Aircrack-Ng Suite of Wi-Fi Hacking ToolsHow To:Hack WiFi Passwords for Free Wireless Internet on Your PS3Video:How to Crack Weak Wi-Fi Passwords in Seconds with Airgeddon on Parrot OSHow To:This Widget Lets You Open Wi-Fi Settings Faster, Share Passwords & More on Your iPhoneHow To:Null Byte & Null Space Labs Present: Wi-Fi Hacking, MITM Attacks & the USB Rubber DuckyHow To:Easily Share Your Complicated Wi-Fi Password Using Your Nexus 5How to Hack Wi-Fi:Cracking WPA2-PSK Passwords with CowpattyHow To:Crack Wi-Fi Passwords with Your Android Phone and Get Free Internet!How To:Automate Wi-Fi Hacking with Wifite2How To:Easily See Passwords for Wi-Fi Networks You've Connected Your Android Device ToHow To:Recover a Lost WiFi Password from Any DeviceHow To:Find & Share Local Wi-Fi Passwords for Free Internet Everywhere You GoHow To:Share Any Password from Your iPhone to Other Apple DevicesHow To:Easily Store Your iPhone's Wi-Fi Passwords & Share Them with Anybody — Even Android UsersHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Hunting Down & Cracking WEP NetworksHow To:Map Networks & Connect to Discovered Devices Using Your PhoneHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Cracking WEP Passwords with Aircrack-NgHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Breaking a WPS PIN to Get the Password with BullyHack Like a Pro:How to Crack Passwords, Part 1 (Principles & Technologies)How To:Share Wi-Fi Adapters Across a Network with Airserv-NgHow To:Recover Forgotten Wi-Fi Passwords in WindowsHow to Hack Wi-Fi:Choosing a Wireless Adapter for HackingHow To:Hack WPA & WPA2 Wi-Fi Passwords with a Pixie-Dust Attack Using AirgeddonHow To:Hack Wi-Fi & Networks More Easily with Lazy ScriptHow To:Find Saved WiFi Passwords in WindowsHow To:The Easiest Way to Share Your Complicated WiFi Password with Friends & Family—No Typing RequiredHow To:How Hackers Steal Your Internet & How to Defend Against ItHow To:Carve Saved Passwords Using CainNews:Advanced Cracking Techniques, Part 1: Custom DictionariesHow To:GPU Accelerate Cracking Passwords with HashcatRainbow Tables:How to Create & Use Them to Crack PasswordsHow To:How Hackers Take Your Encrypted Passwords & Crack Them