Many of the files kept on the Internet are shared through compressed files, which reduce their size (also considerably) and allow you to also apply a security password both for viewing the content and for actually extracting the file. If we have a ZIP or RAR compressed file in our hands but we don't remember the password at all, we don't have to worry too much.
In our dedicated guide we will show you the sites and programs suitable for removing passwords from RAR and ZIP files, so as to immediately recover the content contained in it.
It goes without saying that we will have to use these techniques only on our files, in which we have forgotten the password of a compressed and protected archive due to carelessness.
We do not try to force files that we do not own (it is a very serious crime) or worse to force cracked or pirated game protected archives: often the password on these archives is just a trick to scrub the antivirus and start the a very serious infection.
READ ALSO -> Programs to compress extract and open ZIP, RAR or other archives
1) What are compressed archives
Compressed files are very similar to file containers, only compression is applied thereby saving space.
This compression was very useful in the era of 56K modems and the first ADSL, where it could take hours or days to exchange large files.
Today this need is superfluous, since we have 100 or 1000 Mega lines, but compressed files are still widely used to bring together multiple files and folders into a single file (to be shared on the network) and to protect files with passwords : who is not authorized, cannot see what files are in it and cannot open or read them.
Unfortunately, many compressed files are also used for malicious purposes: many antiviruses do not scan compressed archives immediately to avoid occupying PC resources and are also unable to scan password-protected archives (even antiviruses don't know!), Allowing therefore attackers keep viruses and malware in compromised files before the antivirus can act.
We therefore pay particular attention to the files compressed with passwords that we download on the net: there could be a bad surprise lurking.
2) Programs to remove the password from compressed files
The first tools we can use are simple tools for Windows, capable of recovering simple passwords or violating fallacious algorithms.
Their use is very easy, just feed them the compressed file and wait for the end of the process.
Here is a list of tools we can use to attempt password recovery on RAR files:
- Appnimi RAR Password Unlocker
- Advanced Archive Password Recovery
- RAR Password Finder
- RAR Password Recovery
- Atomic Rar Password Recovery
Below, however, we find the tools to attempt to recover passwords on ZIP files:
- Appnimi ZIP Password Unlocker
- Password Recovery Bundle
- ZIP Password Recovery Professional
Unfortunately, the results are not guaranteed and some tools are offered only in a free trial version for a certain period of time or with limitations on the size of the files and the number of recoveries that can be made: in fact, no tool works 100% and there is the risk of spending money unnecessarily .
3) Sites to remove the password from compressed files
If the programs have proved completely useless, we can still hope to recover the contents of a protected archive using online sites, which offer powerful computers and servers to try to violate the algorithm and thus access the content without knowing the password.
The best sites we can try are:
- PasswordOnline.com: without a doubt one of the best sites, but requires payment of € 10 once the password has been removed from the ZIP and RAR files; if the service is unable to violate your password, it will not claim anything in return.
- RAR Password Recovery: this site offers a system for violating the password through a dictionary attack, with a probability of success of around 20%; it's not much, but the attack can be carried out for free.
- Password-Find: another very useful site to try to recover the password of ZIP and RAR files, simulating different types of attacks.
The service is free but the success rates are low as with the previous site.
Even these sites never offer 100% probability of success, but at least they don't look for money if the company is impossible and they crack for free (with a site we will have to pay only in case of actual success).
4) Difficulty finding the password
A good hacker is able to overcome the password lock and open a protected RAR or ZIP file.
Of this type of programs there are many, free and paid, which work the same way: they try all possible combinations of passwords until you find the right one (Brute Force) or are based on lists of common passwords.
The easiest way to find your password is not this: most of the time you take advantage of the known vulnerabilities of the ZIP and RAR protections, so you can completely bypass the password control and access the content without trying billions of passwords.
Even in these cases we can put a hacker in difficulty by adopting a high encryption system such as AES-256, compatible with both WinRAR and 7-Zip (the most famous programs to create new compressed archives).
If we create archives protected with AES, it is very difficult for a hacker to recover the password of a ZIP or RAR, even using the sites and programs that we have recommended above.
If, on the other hand, we are not sure of the password chosen to protect the archive, we can prove the goodness of the password by visiting a site that shows us how long it takes to "hack" a password : Howsecureismypassword.net.
Alternatively, you can play the password finder which is, more than anything else, an intelligence game.
READ ALSO: Unlock a password-protected pdf file to open, edit, read and print
