Here’s how to hack Wi-Fi passwords

Whether you have a Wi-Fi network at home or live close to a few, you’ve seen a list pop up asking you to choose one whenever you either reboot your device or are somewhere new. If there’s a lock next to the name, that’s indication that the security for it is turned on. Without the password, you’re not going to gain access to that network or the Internet that comes with it.

Maybe you forgot the password to your own network or your neighbors are not willing to share their Internet. Either way, there are a few ways to get in.

Reset the router:

Before you reset the router, first try to log into it first. From there, you’ll easily be able to reset your wireless password if you forgot it.

When you don’t know the password for the router, that’s when the issue arises. (The two will not be the same unless you set it up that way). Do note that, resetting the router will only work if you have physical access to it.

Nearly every router has a recessed reset button on it. To gain access to it, push it with a pen or unfolded paperclip, hold it for 10 seconds, and the router will change to the factory settings.

Once it’s reset, you will need another password (and username) to access the router itself. Typically, you can do this in a Web browser attached to the router via Ethernet (since the reset most likely killed any potential Wi-Fi connection). 

The URL you must type is some variation of 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. Once you’re asked for a username/password, you can go to RouterPasswords.com, a site that provides users with the default username/password for just about every router created. You’ll need the router’s model number, but that can be found on the back or bottom of it.

Once you have access to the router interface, go to Wi-Fi settings, turn on the wireless networks, and assign them strong passwords (but one you’ll remember).

To crack the passcode:

Most of you didn’t come here to read “reset the router,” so we’ll walk you through how to crack the password on a Wi-Fi network.

If you search “Wi-Fi password hack” or a variation of the sort, you’ll find software sites full of adware and bot scams. Many tools will get outright deleted by antivirus software before the user can even run the EXE installation file.

One method you can try is to create a dual-boot system into a separate operating system (OS) that can perform “penetration testing,” a form of offensive approach security where you can examine a network for all possible paths of breach. Kali Linux is a Linux distribution designed just to do so. It can be run off a CD or USB key without even installing it to the hard drive. Another similar option is BackTrack Linux, which is from the same developer; Kali is just the “polished” version. Both software versions are free and come equipped with the tools you would need to crack the network.

For those who do not want to install an entire OS, there are a few tools that Wi-Fi hackers have found to be successful.

Aircrack is a tool that has been around since Wi-Fi was based on Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). Years ago, WEP was weak and in 2004 was replaced by Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). The latest Aircrack-ng 1.2 is a set of tools for auditing wireless networks that can take on cracking WEP and WPA-PSK keys.

While Aircrack-ng comes with full documentation, it’s not that simple to crack the network. You’ll need to have the right type of Wi-Fi adapter in your computer, preferably one that supports packet injection. Your Wi-Fi adapter and Aircrack will need to gather a great deal of data to get close to decrypting the passkey on the network, which may take a while.

For those who prefer a graphical user interface (GUI), there is KisMAC-ng, which can be used on your Mac to crack keys with the correct adapter installed and also seek out Wi-Fi networks. Another tool that can be used on the Mac is Wi-Fi Crack. Users will need to install MacPorts, a tool used for installing command-line products on the Mac.

But what about for those strong WPA/WPA2 passwords? The tool that does the trick is Reaver, which is part of the BackTrack Linux distro. Again, you will need a command-line tool for it to properly perform, or you can spend $65 for Reach Pro, a hardware device that works on both Windows and Mac. Reaver uses brute force attacks for two to 10 hours to successfully reveal a password. Do note: it only works if the router you’re trying to hack has both a strong signal and Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) turned on. WPS is the feature where you can push a button on the router, another button on the Wi-Fi device, and they can find one another and link automatically with a fully encrypted connection. It is also the “loophole” that Reaver crawls through to break the code.

For those worried about hackers gaining access to your router through WPS, the only way to ensure they do not get in is by investing in a router that doesn’t support WPS; even if it’s turned off, it may not be completely off.

Source: PC Mag