Unix is simple, but it just needs a genius to understand its simplicity.
SysKey is a windows feature/program that adds an additional encryption layer to the password hashes stored in the SAM database.
The basic way to crack a password is to gather passwords using SAM database(Security Accounts Manager) and the use some good password crackers like Jhon the ripper or Brutus to crack it.
But this SYSKey features denies that thing.
With SysKey before cracking the user needs to remove additional security layer/encryption layer to get the password hashes.
So basicaly three methods can be used to generate & store passwords using SysKey.
- Using a user supplied paraphase, the system will prompt for paraphase during startup.
- Using a system generator key stored in a floppy.This will ask for a floppy during startup.
- Using a system generated key stored on the local system using a complex obfuscation algorithm.
The last method is the default one.
In first two cases it is difficult to crack the password. In third case it is impossible.
To run syskey go to command prompt/run & type syskey.