Kali Linux 2017 Wireless Penetration Testing for Beginners Season 1 Episode 9 Cracking Wi-Fi Passwords

Kali Linux 2017: Wireless Penetration Testing for Beginners is a series that delves into the world of hacking and cybersecurity with a laser focus on wireless network penetration. Season one, episode nine, titled "Cracking Wi-Fi Passwords," takes a closer look at the act of breaking into wireless networks by deciphering the passwords in use.

As with other episodes in the series, the tone is deeply technical, and the content caters to an audience with a fair amount of knowledge in this particular area. With that said, the show does take the time to explain the tools and techniques used in wireless penetration testing.

Cracking Wi-Fi passwords is among the most common hacks, and this episode offers an in-depth look at the various methods used to accomplish this task. The episode starts with a primer on Wi-Fi encryption, which is vital to understanding how passwords are encrypted and transmitted. Additionally, the show explains the differences between WPA, WPA2, and other encryption methods.

After establishing a foundation on Wi-Fi encryption, the host moves on to discuss the various tools used by hackers, and how these tools are employed to crack passwords. The show starts with a simple tool — Aircrack-ng, which is an open-source tool that makes quick work of WEP encryption. The tool essentially works by monitoring a network's traffic and gathering packets that contain the critical information needed to crack a password.

From there, the show delves into more sophisticated tools, such as Hashcat, John the Ripper, and Crunch. These tools are more complex but offer a higher success rate when cracking WPA2 encryption. Hashcat, for example, can utilize the computing power of GPUs to crack passwords at a much quicker pace while John the Ripper is great at cracking passwords that have complex characters and numbers.

To round out the episode, the show offers some advice on how to reduce the risk of having your Wi-Fi password cracked. The advice is practical, such as avoiding weak passwords, enabling MAC address filtering, and disabling the WPS function. The show emphasizes that it's essential to stay one step ahead of hackers, as they continually evolve their tactics.

In summary, "Cracking Wi-Fi Passwords" is a detailed episode that goes deep into the topic of Wi-Fi password cracking. The show pulls back the curtain on the tools and techniques hackers use to gain entry to wireless networks. It's a fascinating look into the world of cybersecurity that will appeal to those with a deep interest and knowledge in the subject matter. As with all the episodes in the series, audiences should expect a thoroughly technical deep dive and a wealth of information.