What hardware and software is required to build a password cracking PC?



Password recovery tools like

Hashcat can crack and analyze passwords, and are sometimes used from a cybersecurity perspective. Security company SEVN-X walks you through the hardware and software you need to build a good password cracker.

How to Build a Password Cracker
https://www.sevnx.com/blog/post/building-a-password-cracker



◆Graphic card (GPU)
According to SEVN-X, NVIDIA GPUs for commercially available desktop PCs are the most cost-effective for building rigs specialized for password cracking. Also, in terms of Hashcat performance, '

GeForce RTX 4090 ' has the highest performance.

Additionally, if the correct drivers are installed, it is possible to use GPUs correctly in the same rig, even if the GPU series or manufacturer is different.



◆CPU
There are mainly Intel and AMD CPUs, but it doesn't matter which product you choose as long as it is the latest model. The more GPUs you have, the more powerful your CPU is required.

◆Power supply unit (PSU)
SEVN-X recommends, 'You should spend money and buy a high-performance PSU so that you will have fewer problems during operation.' Specifically, the `

`80 PLUS '' standard for power conversion efficiency recommends the installation of PSUs that are certified as platinum or titanium.

He also emphasizes that one PSU should be used for one GPU, rather than trying to power multiple GPUs with one PSU. Additionally, when running power to multiple PSUs, it's important to ensure that your office or home power outlet can support the power requirements from your rig. If a large current flows that cannot be handled by a normal home or office outlet, not only may the breaker trip, but there is also the risk of hardware failure.



◆Motherboard
A motherboard with a PCIe Gen3 or higher slot is required for adequate hardware to run the entire build. Additionally, it has been pointed out that if you set up a cracking rig using a second-hand motherboard, such as the motherboard of a machine that was once used for mining, the motherboard may become a bottleneck for the build and hinder performance. Masu.

◆Storage
The size of the dictionary used for password cracking with HashCat is basically about 500MB, so a storage capacity corresponding to that is required. SEVN-X recommends

the 4TB model of Samsung 870 EVO as the recommended storage.

◆PC case
In recent years, GPUs have rarely introduced a mechanism called a 'blower style' that discharges residual heat inside the case, and most GPUs have a mechanism that traps heat inside the case. Starting in 2023, SEVN-X will feature an open-frame PC case that allows you to freely expand your rig and install your favorite GPU, regardless of cooling fan or cooler configuration. Therefore, we recommend a PC case from the same manufacturer. In addition, SEVN-X uses a mining rig frame made by XIANXIAN .



◆Cooling device
When building a password cracker that uses multiple GPUs, SEVN-X recommends installing an air-cooled cooling system rather than a water-cooled one from a cost-performance perspective. Additionally, in environments where fan noise is not a concern, relatively inexpensive air-cooling fans may be sufficient.

Furthermore, SEVN-X cites the ``SLI/Crossfire bridge'', a bridge connector that connects multiple GPUs, as an example of an accessory that was purchased but was not useful. SEVN-X says, ``There was no performance improvement with HashCat.Also, NVIDIA's RTX 4090 does not have an SLI port for connecting a bridge, making the SLI/Crossfire bridge obsolete.'' '' he pointed out.



On the other hand, SEVN-X cites ``

virtual display adapter ,' ' ``power usage monitor ,'' ``power jumper,'' ``PCIe extender, '' ``PCIe USB riser , '' and ``adapter that supports multiple PSUs '' as useful accessories. .



◆Software for overclocking
If you want to further improve GPU performance, tools like

Precision X1 and Afterburner can help. On the other hand, SEVN-X points out, ``Putting a load on the GPU can lead to increased power consumption and further heat generation, which may shorten the lifespan of the entire system, so overclocking should be carefully considered.'' I am.



◆OS
We recommend Linux-based operating systems such as Debian and Ubuntu , which can run in headless mode for free.

◆GPU driver
SEVN-X says, ``Basically, you should install the latest driver unless you see better performance with the older driver.''

◆ Dictionary and word list for password cracking
There are many tools on the internet that serve as resources to help you create the dictionaries and word lists you need to crack passwords.

SEVN-X recommends, 'If you are new to password cracking or building a specialized rig for the first time, you should visit the HashCat page .'

◆Forum now open
A forum related to this article has been set up on the GIGAZINE official Discord server . Anyone can write freely, so please feel free to comment! If you do not have a Discord account, please create one by referring to the article explaining how to create an account!

• Discord | 'Have you ever tried password cracking?' | GIGAZINE
https://discord.com/channels/1037961069903216680/1203989514951852032

Related Posts:

in Software,   Hardware, Posted by log1r_ut