How do hackers use Rainbow Tables?

Hackers utilize Rainbow Tables primarily to decipher stolen passwords. A Rainbow Table is a precomputed table for reversing cryptographic hash functions, mainly used for cracking password hashes. Instead of attempting to guess a user's password by trying different combinations (brute force), attackers can look up the hash of a stolen password in the Rainbow Table to find the original plaintext password quickly.

This method is efficient because the table contains a large number of precomputed hashes associated with their respective passwords, allowing hackers to bypass the time-consuming process of generating hashes in real time. This makes it a powerful tool in password recovery or cracking scenarios, particularly when the passwords have been stored using weak hashing algorithms that are susceptible to such attacks.

While the other options involve malicious activities, they do not relate to how Rainbow Tables operate. Sending malware typically involves different techniques like phishing or exploiting software vulnerabilities, encrypting data is a security measure rather than an attack method, and launching DDoS attacks focuses on overwhelming services rather than password cracking. Thus, the use of Rainbow Tables aligns specifically with the goal of deciphering passwords.