Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What is the purpose of John the Ripper?

1. Network discovery

2. Password recovery for users

3. Network performance testing

4. Accessing remote systems

The correct answer is: Password recovery for users

John the Ripper is a widely used password cracking tool primarily designed for password recovery. Its core functionality revolves around utilizing various techniques, such as dictionary attacks and brute-force attacks, to identify weak passwords that can be exploited. This makes it an essential tool for ethical hackers and security professionals who aim to strengthen password security by testing the resilience of passwords used within an organization. While other tools serve different purposes, such as network discovery or performance testing, John the Ripper specifically addresses the need to recover or test user passwords to improve security measures. By revealing weak passwords, it allows organizations to implement stronger password policies or educate users about creating more secure credentials, thereby contributing to an overall enhanced security posture.