This article shows you how to get hold of the login password of an account you don't own. This procedure can be useful if a problematic relationship with a child or employee makes it necessary to access their personal information. Read on to find out how.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Install a Keylogger
Step 1. Search for a keylogger
You can use any search engine and the keyword "keylogger", and then analyze the results obtained. These software are created to remain active in the background on the computer on which they are installed and record every single key on the keyboard that is pressed by the user. This means that, within the amount of data recorded by the program, all user names and their passwords are also captured (provided that during the time in which the keylogger was active, accesses to websites or protected applications).
Step 2. Choose a reliable and safe program
If you've never used a keylogger before and don't know where to start, Best Free Keylogger and Revealer Keylogger Free are both great pieces of software.
- Before downloading and installing the program on your computer, make sure that the website you choose for the download is not actually hiding a scam.
- If you are willing to spend some money, you can consider purchasing a safe and reliable program that is appreciated by professionals in the sector.
Step 3. Download the chosen keylogger installation file
If possible, it is a good idea to perform this step directly on the computer from which you will need to extract the passwords. If you have chosen a paid program instead of a free one, you must complete the purchase by providing your payment credentials.
- In these cases, if possible, always opt for a secure and reliable payment system, such as PayPal.
- If you cannot download the chosen keylogger installation file directly to the computer on which it will be installed, you must transfer it to a USB drive to be able to copy it to the target machine.
Step 4. Install the chosen software
To do this, simply select the program installation file with a double click of the mouse, then follow the instructions that will appear on the computer screen. When using this type of software, it is very important to carefully read the detailed information regarding the terms of the license for the use of the chosen product contained in the agreement that is displayed during the installation procedure. You must be certain that the content recorded by the program does not come into the possession of its creator or that it is not distributed or published online.
Step 5. Activate the keylogger
After the application has started successfully, you will most likely have the option to hide it from the view of those who normally use the computer. If necessary, "hide" the program and leave it running in the background.
Step 6. Check the collected data
Depending on how often the computer under test is used, you may have to wait up to a week before you can check the results obtained by the program.
- Depending on the keylogger chosen, it may not be necessary to manually analyze all the recorded data, since the program itself will directly provide you with the list of sites visited and the related information entered by the user.
- If, on the other hand, you have chosen to use a keylogger that offers basic functionality, i.e. it simply records the pressure of every single key on the keyboard, you will have to manually analyze all the data collected in search of the login credentials you are looking for (for example a username, a password or phone number).
Method 2 of 4: Effective Techniques for Detecting a Password
Step 1. Search all passwords stored on the computer owner account
If you can physically access the machine that is being used by the person being tested, there is a chance that the passwords they normally use are stored within a single file on the computer itself.
- Most modern computers allow you to perform quick searches within the entire hard drive using a search bar (in the case of Windows systems) or through the Finder application (in the case of macOS systems). Try searching using the keywords "password", "account" and "username" (or "username").
- Make sure you enable search for hidden and system files as well.
Step 2. Write down on paper all the information you already have about the person who created the password you are looking for
This is personal data ranging from the date of birth to the name of any pets. The objective of this analysis is to try to hypothesize the possible security questions, with the relative answers, that the user in question used to protect his accounts together obviously with the possible passwords created.
For example, many people create their own passwords using their pet's name followed by a series of numbers
Step 3. Make sure you make the best use of any relevant information you have
If you cannot find the password you are looking for by trying to use a combination of the most common ones or if you have not found any file inside the computer explicitly indicated as the user's password archive, try to use any data in yours possession to guess the password. Some useful data might include:
- Personal informations: data of this type (such as the name of the pet or the name of the elementary school attended) can be useful in trying to guess the answer to the security questions that protect access to web accounts and that often avoid having to provide the authentication password.
- Social Network: if you are friends with the person in question on any of the most famous social networks (or if you know someone who is), his tastes and interests could be valuable clues to trace the answers to the security questions with which he protected his own web account.
Step 4. Talk to people who may know the password you are looking for
This step is very useful especially if you are a parent who is trying to closely monitor the activities that your child carries out on the web or if you are an employer who wants to thoroughly investigate possible fraud perpetrated against you by employees or collaborators. In such cases, you most likely have the authority to be able to speak to people who may be aware of relevant information regarding the password you are looking for.
Method 3 of 4: Use a Password Manager
Step 1. Obtain confirmation that the person being tested is using a password management program
You can do this by typing the keywords "Password Manager" into the "Search" field on your computer (or Finder application). The purpose of programs of this type is to store, organize and manage the user's passwords relating to all the services he normally uses (such as e-mail or social networks). Here is a short list of the most used programs:
- Key holder;
- Google Smart Lock;
- Internet browsers.
Step 2. Launch the identified program
In most cases, access to these programs is protected by a password. If you know this information, you can easily get hold of any password stored in the program and the related service or account it refers to.
If you don't know the program login password, you will have to rely on the auto-complete functionality of the website or program you are trying to access
Step 3. Try using an account username
If the profile you are trying to access is associated with a password stored in the internet browser you normally use, it is likely that, once you have entered your username, the relative password will be entered automatically.
- Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox both behave in this way if the user has enabled the storage of cookies and if the autocomplete function is enabled.
- If the computer you are investigating is a Mac and you have the password to access the Keychain folder, you will most likely be able to access all the passwords it contains. Start the "Keychain Access" app located in the "Utility" folder, access the "Password" tab on the left side of the window that appears and select the password you are interested in. After entering the password for the Keychain, you will be able to view all the passwords it contains in clear text.
Method 4 of 4: Use Password Reset Links
Step 1. Locate and select the link to reset the desired password
Normally these links are located near the "Password" field.
Step 2. Carefully review the options available to perform a password reset
Most websites allow you to recover or reset a forgotten password using one of the following methods:
- By SMS sent to the phone number associated with the account;
- By receiving an email;
- Answering security questions.
Step 3. Check that you have the information you need to reset your password
It is at this point that knowing as much personal information about the person who created the password is of paramount importance. By getting the answers to the security questions wrong, you will need to physically access the smartphone or e-mail box of the person who created the account whose password you want to find out.
If the user in question has an iOS device synchronized with the Mac in use, you may be able to access the link to reset the password by consulting the e-mail messages received on the computer. Be careful as this is a very risky step as the account owner will be warned that the login password has been changed
Step 4. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen
If you have all the information you need to receive the link with which to start the password reset or reset procedure (or if you know the answer to the related security questions), you will most likely be able to access the account of your interest..
