# Fadi002/unshackle

Open-source tool to bypass windows and linux passwords from bootable usb

Repository: https://github.com/Fadi002/unshackle
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/unshackle
Language: Shell
License: GPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: linux, password-crack, windows, bypass-password, linux-password-bypass, unshackle, windows-password-bypass, cybersecurity, hacking, hacking-tool, hacking-tools, password, rat, usb, usb-hacking, usbhacks, windows-hacking, windows-hacking-software, windows-hacking-tools, stealer
Archived: true
Last push: 2023-11-10T19:48:10+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 10/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 0, release rhythm 8, longevity 81
- inputs: {"age_days": 1141, "days_push": 1027, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: archived
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1981, forks 125 (observed 2026-08-28T04:06:01.762792+00:00)

## What it is
Unshackle is a bootable Linux-based ISO that resets or bypasses Windows and Linux user login passwords from a USB drive. It works offline by modifying system files on the target OS (e.g., swapping Windows sethc.exe for a sticky-keys backdoor you trigger by pressing Shift five times on the lock screen).

## Use cases
- reset a forgotten Windows password without reinstalling the OS
- bypass a Linux login password from a bootable USB
- regain access to a locked PC offline
- remove an administrator password from a Windows 10/11 machine
- create a bootable USB password-recovery toolkit
- demonstrate sticky-keys privilege escalation in security training

## When to choose
- you are locked out of your own Windows or Linux machine and need an offline password reset without a reinstall
- you want a free, open-source alternative to commercial password-recovery boot disks
- you need a simple CLI-driven tool for demonstrating offline authentication bypasses in a lab or class

## When to avoid
- the target drive uses BitLocker or full-disk encryption, which blocks offline modification
- you cannot or will not disable Secure Boot in the firmware settings
- you expect ongoing updates or support - the project is archived and unmaintained
- you want to access a machine you are not authorized to control, which is illegal

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: abandoned
- function: security, penetration-testing
- domain: security, penetration-testing, operating-systems
- platform: windows, cli
- tags: password-reset, bootable-usb, password-bypass, sticky-keys, privilege-escalation, iso-image, offline-password-recovery, ethical-hacking, shell-script, linux

## Member repositories
- Fadi002/unshackle (main) score 10

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:01.762792+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T03:03:56.906269+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/Fadi002/unshackle (fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:01.762792+00:00, sha b16b8e9aa001)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.