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This comprehensive password tool allows users to unscramble and recover passwords affiliated with Microsoft applications

This comprehensive password tool allows users to unscramble and recover passwords affiliated with Microsoft applications

Vote: (248 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Oxid

Version: 4.9.41

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(248 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Oxid

4.9.41

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Simplistic and easy-to-use interface
  • Single-click option for comprehensive password recovery
  • A long list of security tools for network admins

Cons

  • Can be potentially used for illegal activity
  • Could cause loss of data if a network is under heavy attack
  • Not fully compatible with Windows 8

Cain and Abel is much more than a password recovery tool as it helps specialists ranging from network admins to web designers by providing a variety of tools to help with security threats.

It often seems as if an individual needs to memorize dozens of passwords, which are perpetually getting more complex, in order for accounts to remain safe. From bank accounts to email, keeping a nearly encyclopedic knowledge of passwords can be difficult for many, and this is where Cain and Abel comes into play. This is a Windows-based password recovery program that is not only easy to use, but it can help carry out a number of services that move beyond helping someone discover a missing password. Here is a close inspection of this software’s advantages and disadvantages as well as some helpful tools for network administrators, web designers and more.

The primary function of this program is to recover passwords for a personally owned account in an ethical manner. It can do this in a variety of manners, none of which have been designed to damage or exploit the system. This begins with a dictionary attack that goes through every word in a specified dictionary until the correct password has been revealed. If a dictionary attack does not work, the program will then transition to a brute force attack that can be highly effective, but could also take upwards of a few hours or even a few days as it tries every combination of upper and lower case words and numbers in a specific sequence. The final method is referred to as cryptanalysis, a system that attempts to circumvent the security parameters of the system instead of “guessing” the password itself.

For those that would like to improve the security of their network or even the information on their servers, the newest update of Cain & Abel provides a wealth of tools to help with improving security. This begins with a password security tool that will run through each of the passwords in the database to determine their level of security. By doing this, admins will have extremely reliable data on the level of security for each of the accounts that they host, so they can alter their password parameters in the future. Network admins also have the ability to use Cain & Abel to sniff network traffic to detect vulnerabilities for authentication attacks and man-in-the-middle attacks.

Overall, this software is a great resource for both private users and network admins. With a variety of tools bundled into the program, it is a great option to have as a backup for any number of security issues.

Pros

  • Simplistic and easy-to-use interface
  • Single-click option for comprehensive password recovery
  • A long list of security tools for network admins

Cons

  • Can be potentially used for illegal activity
  • Could cause loss of data if a network is under heavy attack
  • Not fully compatible with Windows 8

This download is no longer available. This could be due to the program being discontinued, having a security issue or for some other reason.

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