Password Cracking Techniques
Discover how passwords are compromised using brute force, dictionary, and rainbow table attacks.
Password Cracking Techniques is a free Ethical Hacking Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 1 of 3. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Ethical Hacking Academy learning path, one of 3 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
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Welcome to Password Cracking Techniques
Understanding password cracking helps ethical hackers test password strength and improve security.
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What is Password Cracking?
It is the process of recovering passwords by guessing or using automated tools.
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Types of Password Cracking
- Brute Force Attack - Tries all possible combinations.
- Dictionary Attack - Uses a predefined list of common passwords.
- Rainbow Table Attack - Uses precomputed hashes.
- Phishing - Tricks users into revealing passwords.
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Brute Force Attacks
Brute force attempts every possible combination of characters.
john --wordlist=/usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt hashfile.txt5
Dictionary Attacks
Dictionary attacks use common words and phrases to guess passwords.
hashcat -a 0 -m 0 hashfile.txt wordlist.txt6
Rainbow Table Attacks
Precomputed hash values speed up password cracking.
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Common Password Cracking Tools
John the Ripper- Brute force and dictionary attacks.Hashcat- GPU-based password recovery.Hydra- Online brute-force attacks.
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Preventing Password Cracking
- Use strong, unique passwords.
- Enable multi-factor authentication.
- Limit login attempts.
- Use secure password hashing (bcrypt, PBKDF2).
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Summary
Password cracking techniques highlight the importance of strong passwords and security measures.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Password Cracking Techniques” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Password Cracking Techniques” is free to read here on the web, and the Ethical Hacking Academy course includes 3 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Ethical Hacking Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Password Cracking Techniques”?
Discover how passwords are compromised using brute force, dictionary, and rainbow table attacks. You practise Ethical Hacking Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Ethical Hacking Academy?
No prior experience is required. Ethical Hacking Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 1 of 3, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Password Cracking Techniques” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Ethical Hacking Academy lesson?
Yes. Every Ethical Hacking Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Password Cracking Techniques
- Privilege Escalation
- Maintaining Access