Kali Linux, a powerful penetration testing distribution, offers several ways to view saved Wi-Fi passwords. This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough of different methods, ensuring you understand the process and its implications. Remember: Accessing someone else's Wi-Fi network without permission is illegal and unethical. This information is for educational purposes and should only be used on networks you own or have explicit permission to access.
Method 1: Using the NetworkManager Command
This is the simplest method, relying on the NetworkManager utility, which manages network connections in many Linux distributions, including Kali.
Steps:
-
Open a Terminal: Launch a terminal window. You can usually do this by pressing
Ctrl + Alt + T. -
List Saved Networks: Use the following command:
nmcli con showThis command displays a list of all saved Wi-Fi networks. Look for the network you're interested in; it will have a
UUID(Universally Unique Identifier). -
Show Network Details: Use the
UUIDyou identified in step 2 to view detailed information about the network, including the password (if it's stored). Replace<UUID>with the actual UUID from your list.nmcli con show <UUID> -
Locate the Password: The password, however, is not directly displayed in plain text.
NetworkManageruses a secure method to store passwords. To see it, you may need additional tools or to examine the NetworkManager configuration files directly – but this method is not recommended for casual users and involves risk. Other methods are detailed below.
Method 2: Using wpa_passphrase (for WPA/WPA2 networks)
This method works for networks using WPA or WPA2 security protocols and requires the wpa_supplicant configuration file. Caution: This method requires finding the configuration file and understanding its contents. Misusing this could disrupt your network connectivity.
Steps:
-
Locate the
wpa_supplicantfile: This file's location might vary slightly depending on your Kali Linux setup, but common locations include:/etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/<network_name>(where<network_name>is the SSID of your Wi-Fi network).
-
(If using
wpa_supplicant.conf) Extract the network configuration: You need to locate the section of thewpa_supplicant.conffile that pertains to your target network, including thessid(network name) andpsk(pre-shared key, or password). This will often be encapsulated within<network>tags. -
(Use with caution): Tools like
wpa_passphrasecan sometimes help decrypt the password stored in this file. However, the command itself may not work directly and the required steps can be extremely involved.
This method is considerably more advanced and prone to errors and shouldn't be attempted without a strong understanding of the command-line interface and Linux system administration.
Method 3: Examining NetworkManager Configuration Files (Advanced)
This is a very advanced method, involving direct manipulation of configuration files. Incorrect modification can severely damage your system. This is NOT recommended for beginners.
This involves examining the files within the NetworkManager configuration directory. The exact location and method to decrypt the information are complex and beyond the scope of a basic guide.
Security Considerations and Ethical Implications
Remember that accessing someone else's Wi-Fi network without permission is illegal and a serious breach of privacy. This information is provided for educational purposes only and should be used responsibly. Always obtain explicit permission before attempting to access any network that you don't own.
This guide details methods that might be used for legitimate purposes, such as troubleshooting your own network or recovering your own password if forgotten. However, misuse of this information can result in severe legal consequences.
