GPU
Graphics Processing Unit
A parallel processor; often used to accelerate password cracking.
A GPU contains many cores optimized for parallel computation, and while built for graphics it excels at the repetitive operations behind password and hash cracking. Attackers exploit this to test billions of candidate passwords far faster than a CPU, making weak or unsalted hashes quick to break. The exam relevance is understanding why defenders use slow, memory hard hashing functions and salting to resist GPU accelerated attacks. This parallel power also drives the use of strong, lengthy passphrases that expand the search space beyond practical cracking.
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