Hash Cracking

Definitions

1. The attempt to recover original passwords or other secrets from cryptographic hash values, usually through guessing, dictionaries, rules, or brute force. Hash cracking becomes much easier when passwords are weak or when hashes are unsalted and computed with fast algorithms.

   In plain English: Trying to guess the original password that produced a stored hash.

   Example: "The breach worsened after offline hash cracking revealed several reused admin passwords."

Related Terms

• Key Stretching
• PBKDF2
• Password Aging
• Password Complexity
• Password Entropy
• Password Expiration
• Password History
• Password Salt