Showcase Video

https://youtu.be/7oXeeLxnPug

🔐 Password Cracker (C++)

This is a C++ console-based password cracker tool that supports Brute Force and Dictionary Attack methods. It allows you to input a hashed password (e.g., MD5) and attempts to crack it by comparing it against generated or listed potential matches. This is meant to help people that are learning visualize how such a tool works.

Here’s your updated 📁 Project Structure section based on your actual directory layout and use of CMake:

📁 Project Structure

├── build/                         # CMake build artifacts and compiled binary
│   └── PassCrackViz               # Final compiled executable
├── src/                           # Source code
│   ├── main.cpp                   # Program entry point and menu interface
│   ├── BruteForceCracker.{h,cpp} # Brute-force password guessing
│   ├── DictionaryCracker.{h,cpp} # Wordlist-based password guessing
│   ├── HashUtils.{h,cpp}         # Hashing and comparison utilities
│   └── UIManager.{h,cpp}         # Handles user I/O and menus
├── wordlist.txt                  # Dictionary file for cracking passwords
├── smoke.cpp                     # Quick test script for validating hash cracking
├── smoke_test                    # Compiled binary for smoke testing
├── CMakeLists.txt                # CMake build configuration

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🧠 Features

• 🔍 Crack passwords using:
  • Brute Force (every possible character combination)
  • Dictionary Attack (compare against a file of common passwords)
• 💬 User-friendly terminal interface
• 🔑 MD5 hash comparison (can be extended)

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🚀 Getting Started

Prerequisites

• A C++ compiler (g++)
• C++17 or higher recommended

🔧 Build Instructions

Open your terminal and run:

mkdir -p build
cd build
cmake ..
make

This compiles the program into an executable called cracker.

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🖥️ Usage

Run the executable:

./cracker

You’ll be prompted to:

1. Choose between Brute Force or Dictionary Attack
2. Enter a hashed password (e.g., 098f6bcd4621d373cade4e832627b4f6 for "test")
3. (If Dictionary) Provide a dictionary file path

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🧪 Example Hash

To test:

• Use the MD5 of the password "test": 098f6bcd4621d373cade4e832627b4f6

• Try cracking it with a dictionary file that includes "password", or brute-force it.

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📚 Notes

• Brute force is slow for long or complex passwords.
• Dictionary cracking depends on the quality of your wordlist (e.g., wordlist.txt).
• Currently supports MD5; easy to extend to SHA256 or others using a hash library.

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🛡️ Disclaimer

This tool is intended for educational and ethical purposes only. Do not use it against systems or hashes you do not own or have permission to test.

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