This type of attack is available only for recovering passwords for opening documents created in Microsoft Word or Excel 97/2000/XP/2003 (except the Word/Excel 97 French edition where the encryption algorithm of the previous generation is used).
1. Open the document you want to recover the password for. Use the Open file toolbar button, the menu (File -> Open), or the hot key (Ctrl+O).
2. Examine the information pane to see if the file protection mechanism is recognized. Set the search parameters. Use the Start search toolbar button, the menu (Search->Start), or the hot key (Ctrl+S).
3. Specify the search parameters on the Brute-force attack tab:
• The alphabet used for generating passwords. Along with ready-made alphabets, you can use the program to create and edit your own character sets;
• Set of characters to generate passwords from: lowercase and uppercase letters, digits, special characters (punctuation marks, spaces and similar visible characters), a custom set (strictly defined, usually a limited set of characters);
• Minimum password length to start search;
• Password to start searching from;
• Whether you want to use a mask and the mask itself. The rules for generating passwords with a mask are specified by means of the visual component.
4. Start the password recovery process by clicking the "OK" button.
The search status will be displayed in the informational pane throughout the search. It will show the total number of variants, the number of checked variants, the calculated time, and more.