Investigate how password protection works and delve into popular cracking techniques for penetration testing and retrieving data Key FeaturesGain guidance for setting up a diverse password-cracking environment across multiple platformsExplore tools such as John the Ripper, Hashcat, and techniques like dictionary and brute force attacks for breaking passwordsDiscover real-world examples and scenarios to navigate password security challenges effectivelyPurchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBookBook DescriptionWhether you’re looking to crack passwords as part of a thorough security audit or aiming to recover vital information, this book will equip you with the skills to accomplish your goals. Written by a cybersecurity expert with over fifteen years of experience in penetration testing, Ethical Password Cracking offers a thorough understanding of password protection and the correct approach to retrieving password-protected data. As you progress through the chapters, you first familiarize yourself with how credentials are stored, delving briefly into the math behind password cracking. Then, the book will take you through various tools and techniques to help you recover desired passwords before focusing on common cracking use cases, hash recovery, and cracking. Real-life examples will prompt you to explore brute-force versus dictionary-based approaches and teach you how to apply them to various types of credential storage. By the end of this book, you'll understand how passwords are protected and how to crack the most common credential types with ease.What you will learnUnderstand the concept of password crackingDiscover how OSINT potentially identifies passwords from breachesAddress how to crack common hash types effectivelyIdentify, extract, and crack Windows and macOS password hashesGet up to speed with WPA/WPA2 architectureExplore popular password managers such as KeePass, LastPass, and 1PasswordFormat hashes for Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum wallets, and crack themWho this book is forThis book is for cybersecurity professionals, penetration testers, and ethical hackers looking to deepen their understanding of password security and enhance their capabilities in password cracking. You’ll need basic knowledge of file and folder management, the capability to install applications, and a fundamental understanding of both Linux and Windows to get started.