The Seconds a Hacker Needs to Crack Your Password

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A brute-force attack is a common method hackers use to crack passwords by systematically trying every possible combination until they find the correct one. According to Hive Systems, the time it takes depends on password complexity and the hardware used—such as a machine with 12 RTX 5090 GPUs, typically designed for AI and gaming but repurposed for password cracking.

Password Cracking Time Estimates (Based on Hive Systems Data)
– 4-character password: Instantly
– 6-character lowercase: Seconds to minutes
– 8-character alphanumeric: Hours to days
– 12-character complex (mixed case + symbols): Years to decades

You Should Know: How to Protect Your Passwords

1. Use Strong Passwords

  • Minimum 12 characters with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.
  • Example: `S3cur3P@$$w0rd!2024`

2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

  • Google Authenticator or Authy for OTP-based security.
  • Linux Command to generate OTP secrets:
    oathtool --totp -b "YOUR_SECRET_KEY"

3. Password Managers

  • KeePassXC (Open-Source):
    sudo apt install keepassxc  Debian/Ubuntu
  • Bitwarden (Cloud-Based):
    sudo snap install bitwarden  Linux

4. Limit Brute-Force Attempts

  • Fail2Ban (Linux) to block repeated login attempts:
    sudo apt install fail2ban
sudo systemctl enable fail2ban

5. Use Password Hashing (For Developers)

  • Bcrypt (Python Example):
    import bcrypt
password = b"SecurePassword123"
hashed = bcrypt.hashpw(password, bcrypt.gensalt())
print(hashed.decode())

6. Windows Security Commands

  • Check password policy:
    net accounts
  • Enable Windows Defender against brute-force:
    Set-MpPreference -EnableNetworkProtection Enabled

What Undercode Say

Password security is critical in cybersecurity. A weak password can be cracked in seconds, while a strong one can take decades. Always:
– Use long, complex passwords (16+ characters).
– Enable MFA everywhere possible.
– Monitor failed login attempts (e.g., `lastb` in Linux).
– Avoid password reuse across sites.

For system admins:

  • Disable SSH root login:
    sudo sed -i 's/PermitRootLogin yes/PermitRootLogin no/' /etc/ssh/sshd_config
sudo systemctl restart sshd
  • Check breached passwords with:
    curl -s "https://haveibeenpwned.com/api/v3/breachedaccount/[email protected]" | jq

Expected Output:

  • Strong passwords resist brute-force attacks.
  • MFA adds an extra security layer.
  • System hardening (Fail2Ban, SSH security) reduces attack surfaces.

Prediction

As GPU and quantum computing advance, traditional password hashing (MD5, SHA-1) will become obsolete. Post-quantum cryptography (e.g., lattice-based algorithms) will dominate future security standards.

Relevant URL: Hive Systems Password Table

References:

Reported By: Ouardi Mohamed – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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