On the Macintosh: Finding Saved Wireless Passwords?

The Chad · September 26th, 2008, 05:31 PM

Hey guys,

To give you some back story, I'm not attempting to hack a network or do anything nefarious. I've signed a wireless access agreement with my university to promise to never steal copyrighted material and stuff.

My school's wireless network isn't really that secure. It uses WEP. To access the network, you take your computer to the school's IT department, and they type in a password into the computer, and somehow mask it with "*". I want to know what this password is, because I would like to use my iPod touch to connect to the network so I can push calender updates and stuff back to "the cloud".

When I click the box, in the Advanced section of the Airport section of the System Preferences, to "Hide Characters", it shows up as just being an "*". However, the password "********" does not work. They are not filtering by MAC address because I could connect to the network before they put my paperwork into the system, at least to my understanding.

Is there a way I can figure out what this password is? I've looked in the Keychain and didn't see it there. Is there a settings or preference file where it's saved? If I have to wipe my HD, I don't want to have to go back to IT to get the password, and I would like my iPod to be able to connect.

Any suggestions?

EDIT: Through some searching, it wasn't stored in the normally used Keychain, but in the root Keychain for the system. I'm not sure how they put it there, but they did. I figured it out. Thanks guys!

Viper007Bond · September 26th, 2008, 08:19 PM

By request. images/smilies/lock.gif

September 26th, 2008, 05:31 PM	#1
The Chad Joined: Feb 22nd, 2005 Last Online: 12:37 AM Location: Northwest Ohio Age: 25 Posts: 465 Rep Power: 21	On the Macintosh: Finding Saved Wireless Passwords? Hey guys, To give you some back story, I'm not attempting to hack a network or do anything nefarious. I've signed a wireless access agreement with my university to promise to never steal copyrighted material and stuff. My school's wireless network isn't really that secure. It uses WEP. To access the network, you take your computer to the school's IT department, and they type in a password into the computer, and somehow mask it with "". I want to know what this password is, because I would like to use my iPod touch to connect to the network so I can push calender updates and stuff back to "the cloud". When I click the box, in the Advanced section of the Airport section of the System Preferences, to "Hide Characters", it shows up as just being an "". However, the password "*******" does not work. They are not filtering by MAC address because I could connect to the network before they put my paperwork into the system, at least to my understanding. Is there a way I can figure out what this password is? I've looked in the Keychain and didn't see it there. Is there a settings or preference file where it's saved? If I have to wipe my HD, I don't want to have to go back to IT to get the password, and I would like my iPod to be able to connect. Any suggestions? EDIT: Through some searching, it wasn't stored in the normally used Keychain, but in the root Keychain for the system. I'm not sure how they put it there, but they did. I figured it out. Thanks guys! __________________ "- ... But don't dawdle. Get the car into top gear as quickly as is reasonable. Fifth gear, remember, is no good at all."* -- Jeremy Clarkson Last edited by The Chad; September 26th, 2008 at 05:34 PM.. Reason: Problem solved.

September 26th, 2008, 08:19 PM	#2
Viper007Bond Lazy Head Dude Joined: Sep 21st, 2003 Last Online: 09:04 AM Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 24 Posts: 20,988 Car: Dodge Viper (I wish!) Rep Power: 234	By request. __________________ Fight back against the evil Quiky by +1'ing this post! There is no replacement for displacement. - Wolfgang Bernhard, Chief Operating Officer, Chrysler Group talking about the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ... I ask Herb Helbig, vehicle synthesis manager for SRT and a member of the original Team Viper development group since day one, if they'd ever thought of adding traction control. "It comes with two," he says, pointing at my feet. "Learn to use them." Got it. - Motor Trend on the 2006 Dodge Viper Coupe, November 2005

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