BackTrack 4 is filled with awesome security utilities.

So what have we done so far … well not too much – we’ve downloaded the 1.6Gb ISO image and successfully created a DVD from the ISO.

This DVD has been used to successfully boot up into ubuntu linux and we’ve started the gui using startx. So far, so great, but now we’ve run into some trouble. The /etc/init.d/networking start command in the console just reveals a massive list of network cards not found. Just get a list of errors – so can’t load the preloaded Firefox browser or any of the networking security tools. Urgh.

Not sure what to do next … google is our friend .. let’s see More adventures with BT4 soon.

EDIT -

Doh! Just realised we were trying to start wired network services on a wireless serviced laptop!

Anyway, once the wireless services (wicd) started, we were in business.

So far using BT4, with relative ease, we have removed Windows adminstrator passwords and cracked a wireless network secured by WEP.  It took about an hour to do this, to read the examples and, well basically follow the provided instructions.

So lessons learned – Windows user account passwords are better than nothing – you should use them, BUT to anyone reasonably up for BT4, they prove to be easily bypassed.

What else? Well it’s absolutely certain that WEP is dead as an encryption mechanism for wireless routers. Again though – it is better than nothing – but don’t rely on it if you have a better option.

More to follow in another edit – barely scratched the surface with what BT4 can do by the look!