How to use aircrack ng in windows

Installing Aircrack-ng from Source

Legacy information can be found here.

Requirements

Linux

Windows (Cygwin)

MacOS

FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, Solaris

Optional stuff

Compiling and installing

Current version

 wget https://download.aircrack-ng.org/aircrack-ng-1.7.tar.gz
 tar -zxvf aircrack-ng-1.7.tar.gz
 cd aircrack-ng-1.7
 autoreconf -i
 ./configure --with-experimental
 make
 make install
 ldconfig

Compiling with AirPcap support (cygwin only)

Compiling on *BSD

Commands are exactly the same as Linux but instead of make, use gmake (with CC=gcc5 CXX=g++5 or any more recent gcc version installed).

Compiling on MacOS

Commands are exactly the same as Linux

Latest Git (development) Sources

git clone https://github.com/aircrack-ng/aircrack-ng
cd aircrack-ng
autoreconf -i
./configure --with-experimental
make
make install
ldconfig

./configure flags

Troubleshooting Tips

error while loading shared libraries: libaircrack-ng.so.0

Run ldconfig as root or with “sudo” to solve the issue.

«command not found» error message

 /usr/local/bin
 /usr/local/sbin
 /usr/local/man

 locate aircrack-ng
 locate airmon-ng

 find / -name aircrack-ng
 find / -name airmon-ng

 echo $PATH

 /usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin

 https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/howto-print-path-variable/
 http://www.troubleshooters.com/linux/prepostpath.htm

Installing pre-compiled binaries

Linux/BSD/OSX

Windows

aircrack-ng_suite-under-windows_for_dummies

Aircrack-ng is a powerful suite of tools designed for network security professionals and penetration testers to analyze and crack Wi-Fi encryption. It supports various tasks related to Wi-Fi network auditing, making it an essential tool for security enthusiasts. This article aims to guide you through using Aircrack-ng on Windows 11, including installation, setup, and various operations for a successful Wi-Fi security test.

Understanding Aircrack-ng

Aircrack-ng can perform several tasks, including:

1. Monitoring: Capturing packets from the air.
2. Attacking: Performing attacks against WEP/WPA/WPA2 encryption.
3. Testing: Testing Wi-Fi security by cracking encryption keys.
4. Cracking: Cracking WEP/WPA/WPA2 keys using various techniques and dictionaries.

Prerequisites

Before you start, ensure you have the following:

• A computer running Windows 11.
• Reliable internet access.
• Administrative privileges to install software and drivers.
• A compatible wireless network adapter that supports monitor mode and packet injection.

Step 1: Installing the Necessary Tools

To use Aircrack-ng on Windows 11, follow these steps to set up the required tools:

1.1 Install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

Aircrack-ng is best run in a Linux environment, but you can use the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) to achieve this.

1. Enable WSL:

   • Press Win + X and select «Windows Terminal (Admin)».
   • Run the following command:

     wsl --install

2. Install a Linux Distribution:

   • After installing WSL, you can choose a Linux distribution like Ubuntu. To do this, run:

     wsl --install -d Ubuntu

3. Restart Your Computer:

   • After installation, you will be prompted to restart your computer.

4. Open Ubuntu from the Start Menu and complete the initial setup, including creating a user account.

1.2 Install Aircrack-ng

Once you’ve set up WSL and your Linux environment, you will need to install Aircrack-ng.

1. Update Package List:

   • In your Ubuntu terminal, run:

     sudo apt update

2. Install Aircrack-ng:

   • To install Aircrack-ng, run:

     sudo apt install aircrack-ng

3. Verify the Installation:

   • After installation, check if Aircrack-ng is installed by running:

     aircrack-ng --help

Step 2: Setting Up Your Wireless Adapter

To conduct Wi-Fi penetration testing, your wireless adapter must support monitor mode and packet injection.

2.1 Identifying Compatible Wireless Adapter

Not all wireless adapters are created equal. You can check the compatibility of your adapter with the following commands in WSL:

iwconfig

This will show you the network interfaces available on your system. You want to ensure the adapter you will be using can work in monitor mode.

2.2 Configuring Monitor Mode

1. Put the Adapter in Monitor Mode:
   • Find your wireless interface name (typically wlan0, wlan1, etc.).
   • Run the following command to set it to monitor mode:

     sudo ip link set wlan0 down
     sudo iw dev wlan0 set type monitor
     sudo ip link set wlan0 up

Replace wlan0 with the actual interface name if different.

Step 3: Capturing Packets

The first major operation you will perform with Aircrack-ng is capturing Wi-Fi packets.

3.1 Use airodump-ng to Capture Data

1. Launch airodump-ng:

   • In the terminal, run:

     sudo airodump-ng wlan0

     This will provide a list of nearby Wi-Fi networks along with their details: BSSID, channel, security, etc.

2. Select Your Target:

   • Identify the network (target) you want to analyze and note its BSSID and channel.

3. Capture Packets from the Target Network:

   • Filter your capture to the target network by running:

     sudo airodump-ng --bssid [BSSID] -c [channel] -w [output_file] wlan0

     Replace [BSSID], [channel], and [output_file] with the corresponding details you noted.

3.2 Collecting WPA Handshake

To crack WPA/WPA2, collect enough packets to eventually capture the WPA handshake.

1. Wait for a handshake:

   • You can wait until a device connects to the network, which will display a successful handshake.

2. Monitor the Capture:

   • Watch for messages indicating a successful handshake in the terminal.

Step 4: Cracking WPA/WPA2 Passwords

Once you capture the handshake, you can move on to attempting to crack the password.

4.1 Getting the Wordlist

To crack the password, you need a wordlist. You can use common ones like rockyou.txt, which can be downloaded from the internet.

1. Download the Wordlist:
   • You can find rockyou.txt on GitHub or other sources. Place it in your working directory or a convenient directory in your WSL system.

4.2 Cracking with aircrack-ng

1. Run aircrack-ng:

   • To start cracking, execute the command:

     aircrack-ng -w [path_to_wordlist] -b [BSSID] [output_file.cap]

     Replace [path_to_wordlist], [BSSID], and [output_file.cap] with the relevant details.

2. Analyze Results:

   • Aircrack-ng will attempt to crack the password using the provided wordlist. Be patient, as this can take time based on the length and complexity of the password.

Step 5: Checking WEP Security

If you want to test WEP networks, the process is slightly different.

5.1 Capture Packets

1. Use airodump-ng:
   • Similar to WPA/WPA2, use airodump-ng to capture packets from the WEP network.

5.2 Cracking WEP Passwords

1. Use aircrack-ng:

   • After capturing enough packets (typically around 10,000), run:

     aircrack-ng [file_with_wep_packets]

2. Analyze Results:

   • Aircrack-ng will analyze the captured packets and attempt to determine the WEP key.

Step 6: Cleanup and Exiting

Once you are finished with your testing, it is essential to clean up and exit your network session properly.

1. Exit Monitor Mode:

   • To exit monitor mode, use:

     sudo ip link set wlan0 down
     sudo iw dev wlan0 set type managed
     sudo ip link set wlan0 up

2. Close Terminal:

   • Close the terminal or logout from your WSL environment.

Ethical Considerations

Using Aircrack-ng responsibly is crucial. Always ensure you have permission to test a network and never perform any unauthorized testing on networks you do not own or have explicit permission to assess. Misusing Aircrack-ng can lead to legal consequences or malicious implications.

Conclusion

Aircrack-ng is an invaluable tool for anyone interested in Wi-Fi security assessments, particularly on Windows 11 via WSL. It’s vital to approach this powerful software with responsibility and a clear understanding of ethical guidelines surrounding network security testing. By following the steps outlined in this comprehensive guide, you can effectively utilize Aircrack-ng for your Wi-Fi network analysis and security testing needs.

Additional Resources

For further reading and deeper insights into Wi-Fi security, consider exploring:

• The official Aircrack-ng documentation.
• Wi-Fi security courses and tutorials available on platforms like Udemy or Coursera.
• Ethical hacking forums for discussions and shared knowledge related to Wi-Fi testing.

By advancing your skills in Wi-Fi security, you contribute positively to the field of cybersecurity. Happy testing!

Requirements

• Have a Windows computer.
• Have a connection to the internet.
• Download Aircrack-ng: https://download.aircrack-ng.org/aircrack-ng-1.2-win.zip

Steps: 

First Step: Download and uncompress the Aircrack-ng file. Personally, I prefer to move the .rar file to the desktop to have a more clear working area. If your web browser does not ask you where to save the file, then just go to your «Downloads» section of your file explorer.

This is how it should look:

Картинка с сайта: dev.to

Second Step: Determine if your Windows architecture is 64-bit or 32-bit.

You should get something like this:

Third Step: Go to your ‘Local Disk (C:) and open the folder «Program Files» or «Program Files (x86)» depending on your windows architecture. Since my Windows is 64-bit I will choose the ‘Program Files’ folder.

Картинка с сайта: dev.to

Then, copy and paste the Aircrack-ng folder that you uncompressed before inside the «Program Files» folder.

The Aircrack-ng folder should look like this inside the «Program Files» folder.

After pasting the «Aircrack-ng» folder inside the «Program files» or «Program Files (x86)» you have to go inside of that folder.

Once inside the folder you will have to open the «bin» folder.

Depending on your Windows architecture you will choose the folder according to your Windows. In my case I chose the «64-bit» folder since my Windows architecture is 64-bit.

Once inside your corresponding folder, you will have to copy the address of that folder as it is shown below:

Картинка с сайта: dev.to

Fourth Step: Now, you will have to go to «This PC» properties once again.

Once you get the window below, you will have to left click on «Advanced system settings» as it is on the picture shown below.

Now you will have to click on the button that says «Environment Variables…»

Once you got inside «Environment Variables» you should get a screen just like this:

Картинка с сайта: dev.to

Once you got this window, you will have to click the «New» button pointed with the arrow.

In this new window, you have to write (path) inside the «Variable name:» box. Then, you will have to paste the address that you copied before in step #4 inside the «Variable value:» box. All the procedures are shown below.

After that, just click «OK» on all the windows that are open. Also, click on «Apply» if you see the option.

Final Step: Go to your desktop and press the keys «Ctrl + R» to open the «Run» program. Inside «Run» type «cmd» as it is shown below.

Then press «OK»

You should get a window like this one below

Картинка с сайта: dev.to

Now that you have opened the «cmd» you will have to type «aireplay-ng» inside the «cmd».

Then, press enter.

You should get a set of information just like it is on the picture above.

Now you are done and ready to use it.