How to use Ophcrack, a linux based password cracker

Ophcrack is a Linux based open source software that cracks Windows passwords by means of LM hashes through rainbow tables. LM hashes, also known as LAN Manager Hash was previously the primary has used to store passwords in Microsoft LAN Manager prior to Window NT.

A Hash function is an algorithm that takes a random block of data returns a fixed –size bit string (hash value). A rainbow table is a pre-computed table used to reverse the cryptographic hash functions. The rainbow tables enable Ophcrack crack password hashes.

How do I use Ophcrack?

To use Ophcrack follow the link below this post. After downloading the Image file you can the burn it on a CD. Ophcrack is downloaded as a Live CD meaning that after you burn your CD you boot your device directly from the CD.

Ophcrack comes with a GTK+ Graphical User Interface making it easy to use even you have minimal experience in computers. Time taken to crack your passwords depends on the complexity. A password with alphanumeric characters takes longer to crack but a longer password with both alphanumeric characters and symbols takes even longer.

Here are the steps to recovering your password.

1   Download the Ophcrack Live CD.

DOWNLOAD OPHCRACK HERE

2   Burn the image file to a Cd Rom. You can then use this CD ROM to boot another computer that you want to recover password.

3  When you are on the computer that has the unknown password, power ON the machine the select the boot device options as the computer powers ON.

4  From the boot device options, select the CD ROM.

.   Next you get three options to choose from just like in the picture below, you can select the first to work with graphic mode. Should the first option fail you can reboot your machine and choose from the remaining two options.

6   Be patient as Ophcrack begins cracking your passwords .Wait until the graphical interface appears

    When Ophcrack has finished cracking the passwords of all registered users, you will see something similar like the image below.

 

Find My iPhone App

Find My iPhone is an in built iPhone app that can pin point the exact location of a lost or misplaced phone. Find My iPhone utilizes Global Positioning System (GPS) to allow users to locate their lost phone using computer or any other device. In stalling this app is one great step to ensuring you always get your phones location whether it’s in your jacket, under the pillow or if you lost it on a train like one David Pogue.  

David Pogue, a New York Times columnist lost an iPhone while on a train but luck was on his side as he had set up the Find My iPhone app.

For New iPhone users or those of you who have not set up the Find My iPhone app I’ll guide you through the steps.

  

1.  First of all your device must be running on iOS 5. If you do not have iOS 5 you can use iTunes 10.5 or a later version to update your iOS.
2. You’ll need to turn on iCloud on your device. You can do this by tapping on the settings icon then select iCloud. You will then be prompted to enter you Apple ID.

          Tap on the on off switch, ensure you move the switch to ON. With a scroll movement to the right you can see Find My iPhone among the options. Toggle the switch to ON.

With the Find My iPhone app you can locate your phone on a map. If you happen to lose or misplace your iPhone you can use the Find My iPhone app on another iPhone or you may sign in to iCloud using any other device with access to the internet. This app can also display a written message on screen or play a sound to help you find your phone. Find My iPhone overrides the silent setting if any was placed.

The Find My iPhone app can also enable a user to remotely wipe data or set a passcode to keep your data private.

Apple does away with the default Youtube App in iOS 6.

The leading smartphone company Apple recently released a Beta version of its iOS 6 about five days ago but many are wondering why the YouTube feature was left out. For the fans of this app, this will be a huge inconvenience. To counter this, the Safari browser comes with inbuilt playback support.

 Does this have something to do with the court battles? The answer is definitely NO. Apple revealed that the default YouTube feature was not included because of its expired licensing. The YouTube app is currently under development and will be available via download from the App Store.

With the ongoing fierce smartphone operating system competition between iOS and Android, it makes sense for Apple not to include the default YouTube app. The iOS 6 also comes packed with an offline support, all this in a move to assert dominance in the industry.

The iPhone 5 is set to be released in October.