Aircrack-ng
aircrack-ng.org
What it is
Aircrack-ng is a free suite of command-line tools for assessing Wi-Fi network security. It captures packets and exports data to text files for processing with third-party tools, and checks wireless cards and drivers for capture and injection capabilities. The toolset also covers frame injection and replay, monitor-mode control, wireless-network graphing, and cracking WEP and WPA PSK keys, including WPA 1 and 2. The project says its command-line format allows heavy scripting. Aircrack-ng is open source under GPL v2, BSD 3 Clause, and OpenSSL licenses, and can be compiled without OpenSSL. It runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted deployments, with significant caveats for Windows: compatibility is only with Airpcap, and the Windows 1.7 download requires users to develop their own wireless-card DLLs, which are not included or supported. Chipset support is also incomplete, and some functions may not work even with a supported chipset. The downloads page lists version 1.7. Only the latest stable release is supported. The project directs users to documentation and community channels, not email support, and warns against accessing networks that do not belong to them.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- Aircrack-ng is a suite of tools for assessing Wi-Fi network security.Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
- Platforms
- The project says it works primarily on Linux and also lists Windows, macOS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, Solaris, and eComStation 2.Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
- Support
- The project directs users to its wiki, tool documentation, manpages, FAQ, troubleshooting pages, forum, and IRC, and says it does not provide support over email.Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
- License
- Aircrack-ng is open source under GPL v2, BSD 3 Clause, and OpenSSL licenses, and it can be compiled without OpenSSL if that license is not accepted.Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
- Command line
- All tools are command-line programs, which the project says allows heavy scripting.Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
- Cracking
- The suite includes tools for cracking WEP and WPA PSK keys, including WPA 1 and 2.Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
- Hardware compatibility
- The project says not all wireless chipsets are supported, and some functions may not work even with a supported chipset.Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
- Monitoring
- Its monitoring tools capture packets and export data to text files for processing with third-party tools.Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
- Release
- The downloads page lists Aircrack-ng 1.7 as the source release and Windows binary.Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
- Responsible use
- The getting-started guide says the project does not support or endorse accessing networks that do not belong to the user and warns that illegal activity can result in a permanent ban from its forum or IRC.Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
- Security reporting
- The project requests coordinated disclosure of security issues by email and says not to open bug reports or pull requests for those reports.Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
- Supported versions
- The security policy says only the latest stable release is supported.Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
- Testing
- The suite checks wireless cards and driver capabilities for capture and injection.Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
- Toolset
- The documented tools include packet capture, frame injection and replay, monitor-mode control, wireless-network graphing, and WEP/WPA/WPA2-PSK key cracking.Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
- Windows limitation
- The compatibility page says Microsoft Windows is only supported with Airpcap, and the Windows 1.7 download requires users to develop their own wireless-card DLLs, which are not included or supported.Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
Plans and prices
Aircrack-ng Free Full software suite · no license fee Read 29 Sep 2026 · aircrack-ng.org
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free, open-source suite with no license fee.
- Captures packets and tests wireless-card capabilities.
- Includes WEP and WPA PSK key-cracking tools.
- Command-line tools support heavy scripting.
Limits
- Not all wireless chipsets or functions are supported.
- Windows support requires Airpcap.
- Windows 1.7 requires unsupported, user-developed DLLs.
- Only the latest stable release is supported.
Who it suits
Aircrack-ng suits users assessing Wi-Fi networks they own or are authorized to assess, especially those comfortable with command-line tools and scripting. It is not presented as a web, API, or mobile testing suite.
Verdict
Aircrack-ng brings packet capture, wireless testing, and key-cracking tools into a scriptable command-line suite at no license fee. Hardware and Windows limitations are important to check before relying on it.
Where Specifiction places it
- Penetration Testing Software#7 of 348.3
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