How to hack a Wi-Fi network - 3 basic methods everyone should know.

Disclaimer: All materials and examples used are only for educational purposes. Hacking or attempting to hack anything without permission is illegal. Never perform penetration testing or hacking without explicit permission. The Wi-Fi network in this example is my own. This is a great way to learn how attackers exploit vulnerabilities and, more importantly, how to secure your own network.

Intro: The wild world of Wi-Fi hacking ????

Imagine - you’re at home, watching your favorite show on a Netflix, and suddenly your internet slows down. You check your router and find unknown devices connected to your network. How did they get there? If your Wi-Fi security isn’t airtight, you might just be an easy target for hackers.

In this article, I’m going to show you 3 basic methods hackers often use to breach Wi-Fi networks and how you can prevent these attacks. I’ll demonstrate using Kali Linux and RouterSploit on my own network (because hacking without permission is a big no-no ??). Let’s dive in!

Method 1: Exploiting default router password ??

A shocking number of people never change the default admin credentials for their Wi-Fi router. Hackers love this, because it’s the easiest way to break in. Here's how it works:

Step 1: Find your router’s gateway IP

First, you need to figure out your router’s gateway IP address. Open a terminal and type the following:

ip route show
        

You should see something like this:

10.0.2.1
        

This is my router address on Kali used as example. Type this IP into your browser’s address bar, and voila, you’re in the router’s admin console.

Step 2: Default credentials are your best friend

If you've never changed the default credentials, guess what? You're an easy target. Common default credentials are admin/admin, root/root, or user/user. Just Google the model number of your router, and you'll quickly find the default username and password.

In my case, the default credentials are admin/admin. I pop them in, hit login, and - boom! - I'm inside.

Step 3: Full control over the network

Once logged in, I can change settings, see who’s connected, even reboot the router. I could be a hacker sniffing your traffic and stealing sensitive information. That’s the power of default credentials. But no worries - let me secure my network by changing the username and password. ?

Method 2: RouterSploit tool ?????

Time to take things up a notch. RouterSploit is a tool specifically designed for exploiting router vulnerabilities. It’s like Metasploit for routers, and it can help you find weaknesses in your device.

Step 1: Install RouterSploit

If you don’t have RouterSploit installed yet, get it with:

sudo apt-get install routersploit
        

Once it's installed, fire it up:

routersploit
        

Step 2: Scan for vulnerabilities

Now, let’s see if my router has any vulnerabilities. You’ll want to use the router scanner module:

use scanners/router/scanner
set target 10.0.2.1
run
        

RouterSploit will test a variety of known vulnerabilities, and if any match, it’ll show up with a green plus sign. Fortunately, my router is safe (for now). But this tool can be a game-changer for cracking into older or unpatched routers.

Method 3: Bruteforce with Hydra ????

Brute-forcing is the tried-and-true method of password cracking, and Hydra is the king of this game. We’re going to use Hydra’s powerful brute-forcing capabilities to guess the router admin password.

Step 1: Prepare the wordlist

Hydra needs a wordlist of potential passwords to test. I’m going to use the famous rockyou.txt file, which contains millions of common passwords. It’s pre-installed on Kali Linux, located in:

/usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt
        

Step 2: Launch Hydra

Now, let’s start Hydra. Open it via the command line or use the GUI (much easier). Here’s how to set it up:

• Target: My router’s IP address (10.0.2.1)
• Protocol: HTTP POST form
• Port: 80 (default for HTTP)
• Username/Password List: rockyou.txt

Hydra will start trying each password in the wordlist for the given username. If it matches, it will show up on the screen.

hydra -l admin -P /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt 10.0.2.1 http-post-form "/admin:username=^USER^&password=^PASS^:F=incorrect"
        

Step 3: Crack the password

Boom! Hydra starts sending requests to the router. If the password’s weak (or if it’s something like admin123), Hydra will crack it in no time.

How to Prevent: ???

You don’t want your network to be a hacker’s playground, so here’s how to defend against these attacks:

1. Change default credentials: Always, always change the default router username and password. Make them long, complex, and unique.
2. Use strong passwords: Use at least 12 characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Password managers are your friends.
3. Keep router firmware updated: Check for firmware updates regularly. Many routers have known vulnerabilities that can be patched with updates.
4. Use WPA3 encryption: If your router supports WPA3, switch to it. WPA2 is good, but WPA3 is the gold standard in Wi-Fi security.

Conclusion: Stay secure ??

So, there you have it - 3 methods hackers use to compromise Wi-Fi networks. But with the right security measures, you can prevent these attacks and keep your network safe.

Take the time to secure your router today. It’s the easiest way to make sure you’re not the low-hanging fruit for cybercriminals. Stay safe, stay smart, and never forget to change those default passwords! ????

?? Check on my Github for Router Protection script! Got questions or tips to share? Feel free to comment!