[X4U] Software to reveal passwords

[David Ledger]

This is not possible. The password is saved in a one-way-hash'd form. 
When the user logs in, what they enter is put through the same 
function and the result compared with what's saved. There is no 
reverse function - that's why it's used.

All Unix password crackers use trial and error methods. They try 
dictionary word and variants first, which is why you should avoid 
such things.

David


At 19:14 -0700 18/8/07, x4u-request at listserver.themacintoshguy.com wrote:
>Subject: [X4U] Software to reveal passwords
>I am hoping someone can help me find software that will allow me to
>reveal passwords. We often have teachers who have forgotten their
>passwords over the summer and it would be nice if we could retrieve
>that information for them, especially for their connection to the
>server.
>
>   I found lots of software for Windows machines, but none for the
>Mac. For Windows, you drag the cursor over the asterisks and the
>password is revealed.
>
>Thanks for your help!
>
>Darlene Hess
>d_hess at bresnan.net

-- 
David Ledger - Freelance Unix Sysadmin in the UK.
HP-UX specialist of hpUG technical user group (www.hpug.org.uk)
david.ledger at ivdcs.co.uk
www.ivdcs.co.uk