New Cloud-based Service Steals Wi-Fi Passwords [PC World]
For $34 security conscious users have an option to test the strength of their wireless network password. Called WPA Cracker, the online service offers to break into a user's wi-fi WPA, pre-shared key protected network for a fee. The service compares a dictionary of 135 million common words and phrases to the network's password to determine whether it would be crackable by a determined hacker.
Normally, it would take a very long time for a powerful computer to crack a WPA password in this fashion. However, WPA Cracker uses a cloud-based approach, harnessing the power of a 400 node network to guess 300 passwords each second. WPA Cracker claims that it can check all 135 million dictionary entries against a password in 20 minutes. Users concerned about their wireless password's strength pay to have the service interface with their network. After WPA Cracker runs its test, the user receives an email outlining the results.
Should a hacker attempt to perform a similar intrusion and succeed in guessing a wireless password, all traffic on the network would be visible to the hacker. Users interested in enhancing their password strength should check this password primer. And if you're interested in performing a security test, the WPA Cracker is available here.
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