Have you forgotten a password or username that you have stored in an application a long time ago? If you need this very information for another application, browser or for use on a different computer; you have to find a way to either reset or change it first.
However, it’s much easier to simply recover the forgotten password, along with the username and other stored information. This article shows how you can recover passwords from you browser, instant messenger, eMail, and Word or Excel documents. It goes without saying that I have deleted my own user name and password information from the screenshots seen below. The password recovery tool, however, did work flawlessly.
A known issue of many of the following password recovery tools is that antivirus programs detect them as a Trojan/Virus. This is a false alert.
Disclaimer: The following tools are not meant to be used in any illegal way. You shall not recover or crack passwords from applications, profiles, or accounts that are not yours.
Browser
PasswordFox
This tool effortlessly recovers all user names and passwords stored in Firefox. PasswordFox reveals passwords stored in the default profile. Clicking on the folder icon, you can select any user profile from which passwords shall be extracted. The results can be stored in a text file.
If you need to recover the Firefox master password, try FireMaster.
ChromePass
ChromePass is a password recovery tool that reveals usernames and passwords stored in Chrome, Google’s internet browser.
IE PassView
This utility shows usernames and passwords stored by Internet Explorer. Using this tool, you can also delete passwords you no longer need.
Instant Messengers
MessenPass
MessenPass revovers passwords from the following Instant Messengers: AOL Instant Messenger, MSN Digsby, GAIM/Pidgin, Google Talk, Messenger, ICQ, Miranda, MSN Messenger, MySpace IM, PaltalkScene, Trillian Windows Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger.It works only for passwords stored under the currently logged in local computer user.
Do you know of a free tool or way to recover a forgotten Skype password?
Mail PassView
Mail PassView can recover passwords stored in the following applications: Eudora, Gmail (if stored in Gmail Notifier, Google Desktop, or Google Talk), Group Mail Free, Hotmail / MSN mail (if stored in a MSN / Windows / Live Messenger program), IncrediMail, Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, Netscape, Outlook Express, Windows Mail, Windows Live Mail, Yahoo! Mail (if saved in a Yahoo! Messenger application).
Word / Excel
Free Word / Excel Password
This password recovery tools can crack Word or Excel passwords. It requires Microsoft .NET Framework in order to be installed successfully. There are two possible approaches: dictionary recovery or brute force recovery. The latter is limited to eight characters, in other words, longer passwords can not be cracked.The utility comes with a text file containing the standard English dictionary, which is stored in the program directory. You can use any other dictionary text file.
Simon introduced Ophcrack – A Password Hack Tool to Crack Almost Any Windows Password. Guy has previously revealed How To View Passwords Hidden Behind Asterisk Characters. Saikat showed you How To Recover Lost Gmail Password With A SMS Message.
And in case you have forgotten your Windows Administrator password, there are several ways to recover or reset it. Karl shows you how to Recover Your Windows XP Administrator Password With The Installation Disk, T.J. found 3 Ways to Reset A Forgotten Windows Administrator Password, and Jack has 5 Tips to Reset The Administrator Password in Windows XP. Finally, Varun explains How To Reset Any Linux Password.
Do you need to recover passwords from applications not covered in this or former MakeUseOf articles? Please leave a request in the comments and we may reveal the possible solutions in a future article.
Image credits: CDWaldi
Tagged: browsers • email • instant messaging • password • privacy • recover
