Kali Linux
If you are interested in understanding how to crack WiFi password, Kali Linux undoubtedly appears to be of fundamental importance in this sense. It is in fact a Linux distro that can be used in live version (ie without installing it on the computer) from any DVD or USB key that includes numerous tools to monitor and violate wireless networks.
It is not very easy to use (you have to do almost everything from the command line) but it is, in fact, one of the few software that is really able to attack networks protected with advanced encryption algorithms. If you are interested in learning more about how it works, search for its name on Google or YouTube: you will find numerous tutorials about it, both in English and in cittàn.
Kali Linux is completely free, in cittàn and can be downloaded as an ISO file (32 or 64 bit) from its official website. It weighs just over 3GB, so make sure you have a fast enough connection before you start downloading it.
App for smartphones
As pointed out at the beginning of the post, connections that use unsafe encryption algorithms (eg WEP) and predefined passwords (those set by Internet providers when they grant the modem / router on loan for use) can be "Punctured" in a very simple way. Even with smartphone apps.
To better understand what I mean, try taking a look at Wi-Fi Recovery e WiFi WPS WPA Tester to Android and from Wifi Pass to iOS. These are free applications which, using a database made up of old modem / router passwords granted on loan for use by cittàn providers (eg TIM and Fastweb), allow you to connect to networks that are not adequately protected.
Their operation is tremendously simple: once started, they show the list of available networks nearby. Then you select the connection to attack and, if this is vulnerable, the password is revealed. All in just a few seconds.
Reveal passwords saved on PC and smartphone
On Windows
When you are able to physically access a computer or smartphone on which the password of the network to be “attacked” is stored, everything becomes easier. Up Windows just download the free app WirelessKeyView which, in fact, allows you to reveal all the access keys of the wireless networks stored by the PC in such a way as to be able to crack WiFi passwords from other devices even without having to sift through the entire documentation of the modem / router. reference.
To use it, connected to the main page of the application by clicking on the item WirelessKeyView download a 32 bit operating system was used oppure sulla voce Download WirelessKeyView for x64 if you use a 64-bit operating system to download the program to your PC. When the download is complete open, by double clicking on it, the archive you have just downloaded (eg. wirelesskeyview-x64.zip), extract the contents into any folder and start the program WirelessKeyView.exe to get started WirelessKeyView. In the window that opens, you will find the list of all Wi-Fi connections stored in Windows with their WPA / WEP keys.
Keep in mind that some antivirus (including Windows Defender) can recognize WirelessKeyView as a potential threat. However, this is a false positive due to the fact that the program can "read" the passwords stored on the computer. There are no real risks related to malware or viruses, rest assured!
If you do not want to resort to using external applications, you can crack WiFi passwords by discovering those associated with wireless networks to which the computer has been connected even by acting directly from Windows. Find out how to do it below.
- Se usages Windows 10 o Windows 8.xclick on your button Home (l'icona della bandierina collocata nell'angolo in basso a sinistra dello schermo), close Panel of control in the menu that opens and choose the first occurrence from the search results. In the Windows Classic Control Panel, go to Rete and Internet > network and sharing center, select the Wi-Fi network whose access key you want to find out, click the button Wireless properties, select the tab Safety from the window that opens and put the check mark next to the item Show characters. The network password will be displayed in clear text in the field Network security key.
- Se usages Windows 7, click onnetwork icon which is located at the bottom right next to theclock system (the white monitor or cleats Wi-Fi), then right-click on the name of the Wi-Fi connection and select the item Property from the menu that appears. In the window that opens, click on the tab Safety, put the check mark next to the item Show characters and the network password will be shown in clear text in the field Network security key.
Your macOS
Su MacOS, a result practically similar to the one just seen on Windows can be obtained through the application Portachiavi access included “standard” on the Mac and thanks to which it is possible to view all the passwords saved on the system (not only those relating to Wi-Fi).
Using it is really simple. To begin with, start the application by accessing the Launchpadby clicking on the folder Other and then clicking Access Keychains. You can also access Keychain Access by calling Spotlight by clicking on the appropriate icon depicting a magnifying glass located at the top right of the menu bar by typing accesso keychain in the displayed search field and then double clicking on the first result that is shown to you. Alternatively, you can start Keychain Access by "invoking" Crab clicking on the colored icon always placed in the upper right part of the menu bar and saying open keychain access.
After starting it, select the paths Keychain> System e Category> Password from the left sidebar and double-click on the name of the connection you are interested in.
Next, select the tab Attributes from the window that opens, put the check mark next to the item Show the password and type the password of your user account on macOS (the one you use to log in to the system). The reference network password will be displayed in clear text in the field Show the password.
Your Android
If you are using an Android terminal, you can retrieve the passwords of all Wi-Fi networks stored on the device using WiFi Key Recovery. This is a free application that, a bit like the aforementioned WirelessKeyView software for Windows, displays the access keys of all the networks previously stored in the system in clear text.
It does not require any particular configuration, it is perfectly compatible with all versions of the most popular "green robot" mobile platform, but unfortunately it only works on terminals that have been subjected to the procedure of root. If you don't know what I'm talking about, clarify your ideas by reading my tutorial on how to root Android.
Your iOS
If you are using an iOS device, you can learn about the passwords saved on it and use them to access the wireless networks to which you are connected with the latter only after carrying out the jailbreak, a procedure similar to root on Android that allows you to run applications that normally would not work (as they are able to act in a "deeper" way on the system than "traditional" apps). I have given you more details about it in my guides on how to jailbreak iPhone and how to jailbreak iPad.
Once jailbroken, you can find out the access keys of all wireless networks stored on iOS by opening Cydia (the alternative app store available only on jailbroken devices) and installing the tweak Wifi passwords.
How to secure your wireless network
Now that we have seen, at least briefly, how to crack WiFi passwords, and above all we have discovered that it is not an operation so impossible to carry out, it is necessary to take a look at the main steps to take to secure your wireless network and avoid that this is "punctured".
- Use the encryption algorithm WPA2-AES. Alternatively, if connectivity problems are detected with some devices, the WPA / WPA2 - TKIP / AES algorithm can also be adopted.
- Use one secure password, 12-16 characters long that doesn't make sense. Always change the default modem / router passwords.
- Change the combination username / password necessary to access the modem / router management panel.
- Disable the function WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) for quick connection of two devices within the same wireless network. It is convenient but has security holes that could allow malicious people to "pierce" the network.
You will find explained in great detail how to perform all the operations listed above in my tutorial on how to set WiFi passwords.
What if someone has already connected to our network? To find out, just connect to the modem / router control panel and consult the list of active devices. Alternatively you can take advantage of ZamZom wireless network tool, a free software for Windows that I told you about in detail in my article dedicated to how to find out who connects to our Wi-Fi network without permission.
How to crack WiFi password