Computer Network Security: Hydra Password Cracking Lab Analysis Report

This document details a practical assignment focused on computer network security, specifically using the Hydra password cracking tool. The assignment involves using Kali Linux and Metasploitable2 to perform online password guessing against a single username (sys) via SSH. The solution includes the command-line invocation generated by the xhydra GUI, along with detailed output logs of the cracking process. The document explains the setup and configuration of the environment, including IP configurations and ping tests to ensure connectivity between the Kali Linux and Metasploitable2 machines. The Hydra tool is used with specific parameters, such as the username, protocol (SSH), number of concurrent tasks, and a password list. The provided log output demonstrates the brute-force attack process and the attempts to crack the password. This lab offers hands-on experience in ethical hacking and penetration testing techniques.