Hello all, I'm new to the board! I've read postings here for a while, and figured it was time that I join. I also have a question that hopefully some of you can help me with. I'm trying to learn how to get into an Windows XP box that isn't networked and has a user login password. I do have physical access to the computer however. I've used a version of NTFS DOS to grab the SAM file, and spent a day letting LC3 take a crack at it, but with no luck. OK, here's my question (other than how can I get the login password): First of all, does anyone know where I can get a version of NTFS DOS that will give me write access to the hard drive? Also, would a keylogger like maybe IK work to get the login password? Also, if anyone has any other ideas, theyd'd be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

AwoL

Well, perhaps you're not including enough types of characters in your crack attempt. Or maybe you can just be patient and let it run longer.

Keyloggers absolutely won't work unless they're running while somebody changes the password. I've never tried to get a write enabled NTFS DOS, so I don't know.

You'd have to know the admin password for write access if its in fact NTFS, if its FAT32 (or FAT) you can just snag an old boot disk ... remind me to never let you near my boxes? Corse all my good [censored] is on an NTFS drive lol...

Give l0pht a little longer. It took me three days to crack the admin password on the laptop I got from school. If you just let it go it will get that pass.

Infinite

NTFSDOS

NTFSDOS, designed by Bryce Cogswell and Mark Russinovich, allows access to NTFS partitions from OSs that use FAT. Format a floppy disk with the /s option (copy system files), copy ntfsdos.exe (and the helpf file ntfshlp.vxd if you want) then boot the NT box with it. Gain full read access to everything on NTFS partitions. Go for the SAM in the winnt\system32\config directory. Download from http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~mnemonix/ntfsdos.zip

Maybe thats what u looking for tho dunno.

No it's not Dreadlord, he's way ahead of you.

Keyloggers absolutely won't work unless they're running while somebody changes the password.


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

What about a harware keylogger? They make plenty of modules now that plu into the back of a computer where the keyboard plugs in. It captures EVERY keystroke.

here is one I snaged from a google search.

http://www.keyghost.com/

you can find out how it works here

http://www.keyghost.com/installation.htm#demo


I would think this would work. Until Longhorn comes out and all data travles encrypted, but if you snag the keys right before it hits the CPU I do not think there is any protection there right now.

Thanks. I'll give LC3 a little longer to run. Maybe the brute force attack can get through eventually. What is a hardware keylogger?

A hardware keylogger could be something like a small little object that would plug into the end of you keyboard cable, and then in turn plug into a computer. It sits on the line a passively captures all the keystrokes. To get the info out of it you generally need special software of some kind of magic key combo. But they are supposed to work pretty good. Here's a pic of one to give yo an idea:



And yes, given enough time and resources, brute force WILL break that pass.

Infinite

Yeh I've heard that they work quite nice. I'm actually sort of curious how it'd work with my KVM Switch lol... Higrade wires feeding into a cheap wired keylogger to my system lol...

You know, I was thinkin there's gotta be a way to make a keylogger that would work. Cause you may say, "Well the program wouldn't be able to load until after the user's logged in." Nah...think of all the system programs that are running before the user logs in. The kernel (it's called that in Windows too, right?) is already loaded. It's processing input (mouse, keyboard) and gives feedback on the screen, and all that requires programs running. So there has to be some way to make the program run before the user has logged in. So go code it

How about using a full version of NTFS DOS (one that lets you write to the hard drive - assuming the computer is using NTFS) and then installing a DOS-based keylogger while putting a reference to it in the autoexec.bat? Do you think that would work? Is there any other option on the hardware keylogger besides paying $90 for one?

And on a brigher note, my l0pht crack 3 only has 80 days left on the crack! Good thing no one ever changes their password more than once every 3 months ever!

AwoL

Well if you have a version of ntfdos that will write, thenn you can write yourself a new admin password into the sam file and then you don't have to crack the hash. As well, you wouldn't need that to get at an autoexec.bat unless it had the permissions set all weird. And really, windows doesn't even use that anymore, it's more for show.

Search for hardware keyloggers on ebay.

And l0pht said something like 76 days to crack that pass I mentioned above. It got it after 3 days.

Infinite

not with autoexec.bat, and not by registering a program as a service will you be able to get a program to run before the login screen.

I've been messing around with LC3, and so far I haven't been able to find a setting that will crack the SAM file. Has anyone else had this same problem? I'm sure that a hardware keylogger would work, but I'd rather not spend the money on it. Is there an option that I'm missing?

There should be a way to specify the characters that you will crack with. try all numbers and letters and upper/lower case (unless it still doesn't matter). It's been years since I've used l0phtcrack, so I can't give ya a step-by-step.