In today’s digital age, wireless networks have become an integral part of our lives. With the increasing reliance on Wi-Fi for communication and internet access, it’s important to be aware of the security vulnerabilities associated with wireless networks.
In this article, we will explore the top 10 wifi hacking tools that are widely used by security professionals and enthusiasts to test the security of wireless networks. So, let’s dive in and discover these powerful tools.
1. Aircrack-ng
Aircrack-ng is a highly popular tool for cracking WEP/WPA/WPA2 encryption. It is an all-in-one suite that provides various capabilities such as packet capturing, generating traffic, performing de-authentication attacks, and executing brute force and dictionary attacks.
Aircrack-ng is primarily available for Linux and comes pre-installed with Kali Linux, a widely used penetration testing distribution. Before using this tool, it is essential to ensure that your Wi-Fi card supports packet injection.
2. Reaver
Reaver is another prominent tool in the realm of wifi hacking. It specifically targets vulnerabilities in the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) mechanism. Reaver conducts brute force attacks against WPS registrar PINs to recover the WPA/WPA2 passphrase. Since many routers have WPS enabled by default, numerous routers are susceptible to this type of attack right out of the box.
To effectively use Reaver, you need a strong signal strength to the wireless router and the correct configuration. On average, Reaver can recover the passphrase from vulnerable routers in 4-10 hours, depending on factors such as signal strength and the complexity of the PIN.
3. Pixiewps
Pixiewps is a relatively new tool that exploits WPS vulnerabilities. Written in C and included in Kali Linux, Pixiewps performs offline brute force attacks on WPS PINs, taking advantage of the low entropy or lack thereof in vulnerable access points.
This technique, known as a “pixie dust attack,” requires a modified version of Reaver or Wifite to function. Due to its effectiveness and growing popularity, Pixiewps has earned its place as the third tool in our top 10 wifi hacking tools list.
4. Wifite
Wifite is an automated tool designed to target multiple wireless networks encrypted with WEP/WPA/WPA2 and WPS. Upon startup, Wifite requires specific parameters to initiate its operations. It takes care of various tasks, including capturing WPA handshakes, de-authenticating connected clients, spoofing MAC addresses, and storing cracked passwords. With its automated approach, Wifite simplifies the process of auditing and attacking wireless networks.
5. Wireshark
Wireshark stands as one of the most powerful network protocol analyzer tools available. It allows users to perform in-depth analysis of network traffic, enabling detailed examination of network protocols, packet filtering, live packet capturing, and more.
While Wireshark is included in Kali Linux, it is also accessible on Windows and Mac platforms. Some advanced features may require a Wi-Fi adapter that supports promiscuous and monitoring modes.
6. oclHashcat
oclHashcat, although not a dedicated wifi hacking tool, is capable of conducting brute force and dictionary attacks on captured handshakes at lightning-fast speeds when utilizing a GPU. After capturing the WPA handshake using tools like Aircrack-ng, oclHashcat can leverage the processing power of a GPU to crack the passphrase.
With an average GPU, oclHashcat can attempt around 50,000 combinations per second, significantly speeding up the cracking process. oclHashcat is available for both Windows and Linux and supports both AMD and Nvidia video cards.
7. Fern Wifi Cracker
Fern Wifi Cracker is a Python-based wireless security auditing and attack tool. What sets Fern apart from others in this list is its user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI). It supports the cracking and recovery of WEP, WPA, and WPS keys, along with providing tools for performing man-in-the-middle (MiTM) attacks. Fern Wifi Cracker runs on various Linux distributions and is included with Kali Linux.
8. Wash
Wash is a handy tool for determining whether an access point has WPS enabled. It also helps check if an access point locks itself up after a certain number of Reaver attempts. Many access points implement security measures that lock the WPS PIN brute-forcing process, making Wash a valuable tool in assessing the security of WPS-enabled routers. It comes bundled with the Reaver package and is a standard tool in Kali Linux.
9. Crunch
Crunch is a versatile and user-friendly tool for generating custom wordlists used in dictionary attacks. As the success of a dictionary attack relies on the quality of the wordlist used, creating customized wordlists becomes crucial. Crunch offers the ability to create wordlists based on default router passwords and can be conveniently piped to other tools like Aircrack-ng, saving valuable time during the cracking process.
10. Macchanger
Macchanger is a utility that allows users to modify their MAC address, either randomly or by manually inputting a specific address. Spoofing your MAC address can be useful for wifi hacking to bypass MAC filters or conceal your identity on a wireless network. Macchanger provides an easy way to change your MAC address, adding an extra layer of anonymity and flexibility in various wifi hacking scenarios.
Conclusion
These top 10 wifi hacking tools offer diverse capabilities to security professionals and enthusiasts alike. However, it is important to note that using these tools without proper authorization is illegal and unethical.
These tools should only be used for legitimate security testing purposes or with explicit permission from the network owner. Understanding these tools helps raise awareness about wifi security and allows individuals to better protect their own networks.
