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A Hacker's Guide to Password Cracking

A Hacker's Guide to Password Cracking

Nov 07, 2024 Password Security / Network Security
Defending your organization's security is like fortifying a castle—you need to understand where attackers will strike and how they'll try to breach your walls. And hackers are always searching for weaknesses, whether it's a lax password policy or a forgotten backdoor. To build a stronger defense, you must think like a hacker and anticipate their moves. Read on to learn more about hackers' strategies to crack passwords, the vulnerabilities they exploit, and how you can reinforce your defenses to keep them at bay. Analysis of the worst passwords Weak, commonly used passwords represent the easiest targets for hackers. Every year, experts provide  lists of the most frequently used passwords , with classics like " 123456 " and " password " appearing year after year. These passwords are the low-hanging fruit of a hacker's attack strategy. Despite years of security warnings, users still use simple, easy-to-remember passwords—often based on predictable patterns or personal details ...
How Long Does It Take Hackers to Crack Modern Hashing Algorithms?

How Long Does It Take Hackers to Crack Modern Hashing Algorithms?

Jan 28, 2025 Cybersecurity / Encryption
While passwords remain the first line of defense for protecting user accounts against unauthorized access, the methods for creating strong passwords and protecting them are continually evolving. For example, NIST password recommendations are now prioritizing password length over complexity. Hashing, however, remains a non-negotiable. Even long secure passphrases should be hashed to prevent them from being completely exposed in the event of a data breach – and never stored in plaintext. This article examines how today's cyber attackers attempt to crack hashed passwords, explores common hashing algorithms and their limitations, and discusses measures you can take to protect your hashed passwords, regardless of which algorithm you are using. Modern password cracking techniques Malicious actors have an array of tools and methods at their disposal for cracking hashed passwords. Some of the more widely used methods include brute force attacks, password dictionary attacks, hybrid attacks...
Three Password Cracking Techniques and How to Defend Against Them

Three Password Cracking Techniques and How to Defend Against Them

Feb 26, 2025 Identity Protection / Password Security
Passwords are rarely appreciated until a security breach occurs; suffice to say, the importance of a strong password becomes clear only when faced with the consequences of a weak one. However, most end users are unaware of just how vulnerable their passwords are to the most common password-cracking methods. The following are the three common techniques for cracking passwords and how to defend against them. Brute force attack Brute force attacks are straightforward yet highly effective techniques for cracking passwords. These attacks involve malicious actors using automated tools to systematically try every possible password combination through repeated login attempts. While such tools have existed for years, the advent of affordable computing power and storage has made them even more efficient today, especially when weak passwords are used. How it works When it comes to brute force attacks, malicious actors employ a range of tactics—from simple brute force attacks that test ev...
cyber security

2025 Cloud Security Risk Report

websiteSentinelOneCloud Security / Artificial Intelligence
Learn 5 key risks to cloud security such as cloud credential theft, lateral movements, AI services, and more.
cyber security

Most AI Risk Isn't in Models, It's in Your SaaS Stack

websiteRecoAI Security / (SaaS Security
Your models aren't the problem. The sprawl of your SaaS apps, AI and agents are. Here's where to start.
Advance Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security Boot Camp at Delhi, India

Advance Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security Boot Camp at Delhi, India

Apr 21, 2012
Have you ever wondered how Hackers or Black Hats hack into a computer system ? Our Hacker Boot Camp training session will teach you how this can be done. You will be shown the techniques, tools and methods that the hacker uses. This insight will help you understand how to better protect your IT architecture and identify the vectors of attack that hackers use. The Hacker News organising an Advance Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security Boot Camp at Delhi, India. All of our instructors are experts in their field and maintain respected reputations within the security community. CCSN is a revolutionary new certification in the field of information security training program for amateurs and professionals to help you gain the skills you need to become an expert in the field of information security. This specialized certification assures potential employers and customers that you have a level of advanced knowledge to detect and offer support for some of the most advanced secur...
8 Popular Courses to Learn Ethical Hacking – 2018 Bundle

8 Popular Courses to Learn Ethical Hacking – 2018 Bundle

Oct 19, 2018
Update (Oct 2018) — Over 30,000 students from all around the world have joined this training program so far. Due to the growing number of threats in the computer world, ethical hackers have become the most important player for not only governments but also private companies and IT firms in order to safeguard their systems and networks from hackers trying to infiltrate them. By 2020, employment in all information technology occupations is expected to increase by 22 percent, where demand for ethical hackers and IT security engineers will be the strongest. So, it's high time that you should start preparing yourself in the field of ethical hacking. Although there are many popular and best online courses available in the market, you can't learn everything from a single book or a course. Good news, we bring an amazing deal of this month for our readers, known as The Ultimate White Hat Hacker 2018 Bundle online hacking bundle, where you can get hacking courses for as litt...
Cracking iPhone Hotspot password in 50 Seconds

Cracking iPhone Hotspot password in 50 Seconds

Jun 20, 2013
The ability to turn your iPhone into a Wi-Fi hotspot is a fantastically useful little tool in and of itself. When setting up a personal hotspot on their iPad or iPhone, users have the option of allowing iOS to automatically generate a password. According to a new study by Researchers at the University of Erlangen in Germany, iOS-generated passwords use a very specific formula one which the experienced hacker can crack in less than a minute. Using an iOS app written in Apple's own Xcode programming environment, the team set to work analyzing the words that Apple uses to generate its security keys . Apple's hotspot uses a standard WPA2 -type process, which includes the creation and passing of pre-shared keys (PSK). They found that the default passwords are made up of a combination of a short dictionary words followed by a series of random numbers and this method actually leaves them vulnerable to  brute force attack . The word list Apple uses contains approximately 52,500...
Exclusive: German Police Raid OmniRAT Developer and Seize Digital Assets

Exclusive: German Police Raid OmniRAT Developer and Seize Digital Assets

Jun 27, 2019
The German police yesterday raided the house of the developer of OmniRAT and seized his laptop, computer and mobile phones probably as part of an investigation into a recent cyber attack, a source told The Hacker News. OmniRAT made headlines in November 2015 when its developer launched it as a legitimate remote administration tool for IT experts and companies to manage their devices with explicit permissions. Available between $25 and $100, OmniRAT quickly became one of the most popular remote administration tools, allowing users to monitor Android, Windows, Linux, and Mac devices remotely and access every available information on them. However, just like any other remote administration tool like DroidJack, DarkComet, AndroRAT, and njRAT, some customers of OmniRAT also used the tool for illicit purposes, especially because it was available at a far cheaper price than other RATs in the market. In one such event earlier this year, a group of hackers attempted to target severa...
⚡ THN Weekly Recap: Router Hacks, PyPI Attacks, New Ransomware Decryptor, and More

⚡ THN Weekly Recap: Router Hacks, PyPI Attacks, New Ransomware Decryptor, and More

Mar 17, 2025 Cybersecurity / Hacking News
From sophisticated nation-state campaigns to stealthy malware lurking in unexpected places, this week's cybersecurity landscape is a reminder that attackers are always evolving. Advanced threat groups are exploiting outdated hardware, abusing legitimate tools for financial fraud, and finding new ways to bypass security defenses. Meanwhile, supply chain threats are on the rise, with open-source repositories becoming a playground for credential theft and hidden backdoors. But it's not all bad news—law enforcement is tightening its grip on cybercriminal networks, with key ransomware figures facing extradition and the security community making strides in uncovering and dismantling active threats. Ethical hackers continue to expose critical flaws, and new decryptors offer a fighting chance against ransomware operators. In this week's recap, we dive into the latest attack techniques, emerging vulnerabilities, and defensive strategies to keep you ahead of the curve. Stay informed, stay sec...
Active Directory Under Siege: Why Critical Infrastructure Needs Stronger Security

Active Directory Under Siege: Why Critical Infrastructure Needs Stronger Security

Nov 12, 2025 Password Security / Threat Detection
Active Directory remains the authentication backbone for over 90% of Fortune 1000 companies. AD's importance has grown as companies adopt hybrid and cloud infrastructure, but so has its complexity. Every application, user, and device traces back to AD for authentication and authorization, making it the ultimate target. For attackers, it represents the holy grail: compromise Active Directory , and you can access the entire network. Why attackers target Active Directory  AD serves as the gatekeeper for everything in your enterprise. So, when adversaries compromise AD, they gain privileged access that lets them create accounts, modify permissions, disable security controls, and move laterally, all without triggering most alerts. The  2024 Change Healthcare breach showed what can happen when AD is compromised. In this attack, hackers exploited a server lacking multifactor authentication, pivoted to AD, escalated privileges, and then executed a highly costly cyberattack....
THN Recap: Top Cybersecurity Threats, Tools and Tips (Nov 25 - Dec 1)

THN Recap: Top Cybersecurity Threats, Tools and Tips (Nov 25 - Dec 1)

Dec 02, 2024 Cyber Threats / Weekly Recap
Ever wonder what happens in the digital world every time you blink? Here's something wild - hackers launch about 2,200 attacks every single day, which means someone's trying to break into a system somewhere every 39 seconds. And get this - while we're all worried about regular hackers, there are now AI systems out there that can craft phishing emails so convincingly, that even cybersecurity experts have trouble spotting them. What's even crazier? Some of the latest malware is like a digital chameleon - it literally watches how you try to catch it and changes its behavior to slip right past your defenses. Pretty mind-bending stuff, right? This week's roundup is packed with eye-opening developments that'll make you see your laptop in a whole new light. ⚡ Threat of the Week T-Mobile Spots Hackers Trying to Break In: U.S. telecom service provider T-Mobile caught some suspicious activity on their network recently - basically, someone was trying to sneak into th...
⚡ Weekly Recap: Fortinet Exploits, RedLine Clipjack, NTLM Crack, Copilot Attack & More

⚡ Weekly Recap: Fortinet Exploits, RedLine Clipjack, NTLM Crack, Copilot Attack & More

Jan 19, 2026 Hacking News / Cybersecurity
In cybersecurity, the line between a normal update and a serious incident keeps getting thinner. Systems that once felt reliable are now under pressure from constant change. New AI tools, connected devices, and automated systems quietly create more ways in, often faster than security teams can react. This week's stories show how easily a small mistake or hidden service can turn into a real break-in. Behind the headlines, the pattern is clear. Automation is being used against the people who built it. Attackers reuse existing systems instead of building new ones. They move faster than most organizations can patch or respond. From quiet code flaws to malware that changes while it runs, attacks are focusing less on speed and more on staying hidden and in control. If you're protecting anything connected—developer tools, cloud systems, or internal networks—this edition shows where attacks are going next, not where they used to be. ⚡ Threat of the Week Critical Fortinet Flaw Comes Under...
How to Do Malware Analysis?

How to Do Malware Analysis?

Sep 14, 2022
Based on the findings of Malwarebytes' Threat Review for 2022, 40 million Windows business computers' threats were detected in 2021. In order to combat and avoid these kinds of attacks, malware analysis is essential. In this article, we will break down the goal of malicious programs' investigation and how to do malware analysis with a sandbox. What is malware analysis?  Malware analysis is a process of studying a malicious sample. During the study, a researcher's goal is to understand a malicious program's type, functions, code, and potential dangers. Receive the information organization needs to respond to the intrusion. Results of analysis that you get: how malware works: if you investigate the code of the program and its algorithm, you will be able to stop it from infecting the whole system. characteristics of the program: improve detection by using data on malware like its family, type, version, etc. what is the goal of malware: trigger the sample's...
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