crack-a-RAR-file-password.md

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### Step 1: Extract hash from RAR

Install **`rar2john`** (comes with John the Ripper) and run:

```bash
rar2john file.rar > hash.txt
```

This produces a hash in `hash.txt`.

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Step 2: Crack with hashcat

Use hash mode 13000 (RAR5) or 12500 (RAR3). Example with a wordlist (rockyou.txt):

hashcat.exe -m 13000 -a 0 hash.txt wordlist.txt

• -m 13000 → RAR5 archive
• -m 12500 → RAR3 archive
• -a 0 → straight (dictionary) attack
• hash.txt → your hash file
• wordlist.txt → your wordlist file

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Step 3: Show the cracked password

hashcat.exe -m 13000 --show hash.txt

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Do you know if your RAR file is RAR3 or RAR5? That decides whether you should use mode 12500 or 13000.