How to Capture WPA Handshakes with Raspberry Pi and Aircrack-ng

The WPA 4-way handshake secures communication between Wi-Fi clients and access points, but its process leaks enough data for attackers to attempt brute-force or dictionary-based password cracking. This article explains the handshake in plain language, breaks down its cryptographic keys, and walks through capturing WPA handshakes using Raspberry Pi and the Aircrack-ng suite. With clear steps for setup, monitoring, and optional deauthentication attacks, it shows how ethical hackers test Wi-Fi security and why strong passwords remain critical for protection.