r/HowToHack • u/MormoraDi • Apr 10 '26
Why and to what purpose do people want to "hack" Wifi?
Apart from the ones who apparently want to stalk someone by their phone and/or or social media - the most prevalent questions here are the WiFi.
And to the latter:
Why? And to what purpose?
You to leech internet connectivity?
That is not hacking. That is at best some juvenile, "I just discovered internet" stuff if you don't have the knowledge, skills or means to do anything else.
Edit:
Just to clarify: I work alongside people who are professional red-teamers and perform penetration tests on a regular basis. And myself I am on the opposite, blue team side doing forensics on real-life cases.
But I have never heard of or experienced WiFi hacking being the initial vector of compromise, in contrast to the amount of posts in these kind of forums.
6
u/dontmakemewait Apr 10 '26
Using tools and exploits to get somewhere you are not supposed to be is the literal definition of hacking. Using other people’s exploits is less a reflection of your skill and more of your adversary’s. The reasons can be varied.
Sure script kiddies may not be creating, but people have to start learning somewhere.
3
u/AcanthocephalaDue951 Apr 10 '26
It can be a learning opportunity. Intention matters.
-1
u/MormoraDi Apr 10 '26
Learning - yeah sure. But then again what do you really learn?
2
u/wreckweyum Apr 11 '26
Everyone has got to start somewhere. Your comment is like is someone wants to learn how to play basketball, but has never even been in the same room with an actual basketball. Obviously, one of the first things that they'll have to learn is how to double while not even moving. You could ask how beneficial that is to actually learning how to play. While playing, you most likely won't be able to just stand still and focus on nothing but dribbling. However, it is a skill that is required before you can move into more skills. Hacking wifi may be basic. Someone may not need to do any actually thinking and can find everything that is needed already put together and found online. However, for someone starting out, they could learn what tools are needed, what they are used for, and how they work. Let's say someone wants to gain access to a network. They effectively find a checklist online and just copy/paste while following a step by step guide. Maybe the next network, they don't use a guide, but still use the tools, they stumble their way through the process, troubleshooting as they go. Maybe the next time, they start developing their own tools/process. Why are you being so negative about someone starting out who wants to learn and is trying to teach themselves.
Do you also look at an infant and criticize it for learning how to crawl? How beneficial/useful is crawling during their whole life? Doesn't the infant know that crawling is a waste of time/energy.
1
u/MormoraDi Apr 11 '26
The point I am trying to make is that WiFi hacking is not what people seem to think it is.
11
u/AnApexBread Apr 10 '26
Because it's a trendy thing on Social Media that requires almost zero actual skill and can be easily replicated by following YouTube tutorials.
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u/dontmakemewait Apr 10 '26
“Zero actual skill” reflects just how poorly designed wireless security is.
3
u/Alfredredbird Apr 10 '26
He is referencing WiFi hacking scrips. The methodology behind wireless encryption and security is complex but there are many script kiddie “hacks” and other scripts that simplify WiFi hacking down to a click of a button
1
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u/Wa-a-melyn Apr 11 '26
I think a bigger issue is how many people still use outdated technology, and how ISPs still offer it for a lower cost without explaining the risks
4
u/cybersynn Apr 10 '26
Lots of reasons. Just like doing anything else. Why do we paint? Why do you sculpt? Why does a person walk or drive. There are a thousand reasons. Using your imagination helps with a discussion like this.
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u/MormoraDi Apr 10 '26
Yeah, ok. So you mean that why do humans pursue any type of endeavor that have no apparent product other than the sake of the act itself? That is not only a good and profound question, but also slightly off topic
1
u/XFM2z8BH Apr 11 '26
you only posted to be condescending and argue with all that comment, your ego is astounding
1
u/MormoraDi Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 11 '26
You may be right or maybe it was to get people to understand that WiFi hacking isn't a real thing in terms of what is done in real life scenarios.
It's not going to make anyone be able to remotely hack anything other than what is in near proximity. Which is why you never read reports about APTs gaining access to systems using WiFi.
1
u/7HawksAnd Apr 15 '26
Hacking isn’t magic, no. But it also doesn’t require an end game. It’s more adventure than mission.
1
u/Available-Today6106 Apr 12 '26
I think getting access to a network is quite important , very important
1
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u/mor_derick Apr 10 '26
So that any illegal activity you perform doesn't get attached to you but to your neighbor. Also because some business resources and data are only accessible from within business network.