Ethical password cracking: Safeguarding high security information systems

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) November 24, 2011 -- Widespread access to internet and laying open the information floodgates have made even the highly secure servers soft target for hackers to penetrate them by getting past the password meant to safeguard them. Further, in the event of potential password loss, a wealth of information may go down the drain if attempts at retrieval prove futile. This has called for ethical password cracking that will unearth the susceptibility of a system to malicious extraneous attacks as well as provide necessary safeguards to keep the data safe in the worst scenario of password loss.

The objectives with which ethical password cracking is done can be broadly classified as:
• A non destructive attempt to crack passwords by applying latest tricks that may be handy to hackers can lay wide open the vulnerabilities in the system that may need plugging for data security and unauthorized access.
• Provide better security to the system and generate confidence among data consumers about safety of priceless data in the event of password slipping into oblivion.

The password may come under dedicated attack from various sources like organizational attacks; accidental security breaches; Trojan horse or viruses, denial of service or automated attacks.
Ethical password cracking is pulled off by programmers who can be completely trusted with data security. They possess strong programming skills and are thorough with networking knowhow. They have acquired the same skill set, mindset and tools as lies with a reprobate password cracker. Before embarking on the job of password cracking in non annihilating mode, the ethical hackers augment their base skills with comprehensive knowledge of the software and hardware (in vendor specific manner) that is going to be targeted.

The ethical password cracking process commences with the formulation of plan. It takes into account the specific system that is to be focused on, the accompanying risks involved, which specific tests to be carried out, time to be set aside, pattern in which tests are to be done, and what critical aspects of the system are required to be conversant with before venturing. Next step sees selecting the adequate tool to execute the operation. Cracking tools such as John the Ripper and LC4 may come in handy or possibility of deploying other latest tools can be explored. Then, the plan has to be taken forward by attempting to crack the password and from all locations that may prove to be a giveaway for hackers. The result of the cracking process is then evaluated to tighten the security by obliterating vulnerabilities. The password cracking will also come good to stave off Trojan attacks which will reset the administrator password of a system and may crash it.

Ethical password cracking is an effective means for unearthing system vulnerabilities, fixing security breaches, ward off cyber crime, provide assured safety for banking and credit card systems, generate customer’s confidence in an organization’s functioning, prevent website defacement, and above all keep the doors open for retrieving data in case the owner inadvertently loses password.

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