Password Cracker

Website passwords are often stored in a file or database. Sometimes these files can be stolen, revealing the website users’ passwords. So, for extra security, the passwords are saved in code, known as a hash function. Now, when you type your password into the website, it is encrypted and compared to the encrypted value on the list. If they match, then the password is accepted. The clever thing about hash functions is that they are irreversible. There is no need to decrypt the hashed value to get the original password. So, if the file is stolen, the thief cannot use the encrypted passwords to log in. If the thief knows the encryption method, they could encrypt every possible password, starting with the most popular passwords, until they find one that matches the hash value. To prevent this, your password should be unique or difficult to guess. A brute force attack might be able to crack cat123 in seconds – but struggle with R4in$treaM!92 for centuries.