How to Use Password Cracking Tools Responsibly for Security Audits
1 min read
Summary
This article discusses the responsible use of password-cracking tools during security audits to identify weak passwords and enhance system security.
Password-cracking software, such as Hashcat and John the Ripper, can be invaluable for ethical hackers and cybersecurity professionals.
Password hashes are extracted from authorized systems for analysis, with tools properly configured according to the context.
Attack strategies define the approach, such as dictionary attacks or brute-force attacks, with hybrid approaches also possible.
Tread carefully when conducting intense cracking processes on production hardware to avoid performance issues.
Cracked passwords are evaluated for strengths and trends, documented responsibly for actionable recommendations, and confidentially shared with authorized stakeholders.
The article stresses the need for authorization, up-to-date tools, and compliance with laws and regulations to maintain ethical and effective password cracking practices.