password cracking Last modified: Wednesday, August 16, 2006
The process of attempting to guess or crack passwords to gain access to a computer system or network. Crackers will generally use a variety of tools, scripts, or software to crack a system password. The goal of the cracker is to ideally obtain the password for root (UNIX) or system and administrator (Windows, NT). Password cracks work by comparing every encrypted dictionary word against the entries in system password file until a match is found. See also crack.
•E-mail this definition to a colleague• For internet.com pages about password cracking . Also check out the following links! eSecurity Planet  A resource for daily information on e-security targeted to IT managers. The site provides users with information from a variety of sources, including experts at security product and services firms, and the consultants who follow the security industry. Windows IT Pro: Prevent Password Cracking It's a good idea to become familiar with password authentication mechanics and to learn what types of password attacks are in use today. That way, you'll know not only how to protect yourself but also what you're protecting yourself from.	Ethics Security authentication cryptography hacker hacking password Password Authentication Protocol secure server security Give Us Your Feedback