Η εξέλιξη των καρτών γραφικών και οι επιπτώσεις της στην κυβερνοασφάλεια : διαθεσιμότητα υψηλής υπολογιστικής ισχύος σε καταναλωτικό επίπεδο

Χαϊντούτης, Αλκίνοος

The evolution of graphics cards and their impact on cybersecurity : availability of high computational power at the consumer level

Master Thesis

Author

Χαϊντούτης, Αλκίνοος

Date

2025-10

Abstract

This thesis explores the rapid technological advancement of graphics processing units (GPUs) and its implications for the field of cybersecurity. Modern GPUs, with their massively increased computational power and ability to execute large-scale parallel processing, are no longer limited to rendering graphics or gaming. Instead, they are increasingly used in malicious activities such as password cracking, cryptocurrency mining and targeted cyber operations. The study includes an extensive analysis of the advantages of GPUs over CPUs, the methods of their misuse, their impact on critical infrastructure and personal data, and the ethical and legal dilemmas arising from their widespread availability. The thesis also reviews the regulatory and legal frameworks that attempt to address these growing challenges. In the experimental section, a comparative evaluation of four computational environments is conducted using Hashcat (GPU) and John the Ripper (CPU). Three widely known hashing algorithms MD5, SHA-1, and NTLM are tested under various password length scenarios. The results show that modern GPUs can achieve much faster execution times, with a nearly linear relationship observed between the number of CUDA cores and cracking performance. The thesis further analyzes the future of GPU technology from both a technical and demand driven perspective, considering expected innovations, increasing computational needs, and the broader social and economic impacts. Special emphasis is placed on energy efficiency improvements, architectural trends, and the uncertainty introduced by geopolitical and regulatory developments. Ultimately, the study concludes that GPUs have become a critical component not only in technological progress but also in modern cyber threats highlighting the urgent need for a balance between open access and responsible control of such powerful computing technologies.

Postgraduate Studies Programme

Κυβερνοασφάλεια και Επιστήμη Δεδομένων

Department

Σχολή Τεχνολογιών Πληροφορικής και Επικοινωνιών. Τμήμα Πληροφορικής

Number of pages

Language

Greek

URI

https://dione.lib.unipi.gr/xmlui/handle/unipi/18564

Collections

Τμήμα Πληροφορικής

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Αναφορά Δημιουργού-Μη Εμπορική Χρήση-Όχι Παράγωγα Έργα 3.0 Ελλάδα