Short passwords 'hopelessly inadequate', say boffins

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  1. Posts : 12,364
    8 Pro x64
       #10

    Barman58 said:
    4

    Even the simple "password" is harder to crack when it's "pA$sw0rD"
    Thanks Nigel - now I need a new password
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  2. Posts : 31,246
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #11

    Patrick,

    I know - you hadn't changed it for weeks
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  3. Posts : 18,404
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #12

    smarteyeball said:
    Barman58 said:
    4

    Even the simple "password" is harder to crack when it's "pA$sw0rD"
    Thanks Nigel - now I need a new password
    Barman58 said:
    Patrick,

    I know - you hadn't changed it for weeks

    Great.

    Now that's the end of me being hacked into smarteyeballs stuffs.

    Way. to. go. Nigel.
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  4. Posts : 12,364
    8 Pro x64
       #13

    Sorted - I changed it to Dr0ws$Ap. No-one will guess that


    Hang on... Damn.

    EDIT:

    Airbot said:


    Great.

    Now that's the end of me being hacked into smarteyeballs stuffs.

    Way. to. go. Nigel.
    Ah ha!
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  5. Posts : 31,246
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #14

    That's OK Aaron - The keylogger's are still working, just don't tell Patrick
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  6. Posts : 12,364
    8 Pro x64
       #15

    I won't tell him either

    Wait a sec...
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  7. Posts : 491
    Windows 7
       #16

    I think another important feature which should be used more often and is used in my bank is you only have 3 attempts to enter your pin number correctly, if you fail the 3rd time then you are blocked from getting access to your account until you contact the bank.
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  8. Posts : 1,403
    Win 7 Ultimate 32bit
       #17

    Well,, for home users, that would be ok if they would remember to create or given the password recovery media for their systems.

    but again, that is another security flaw that is not promoted strongly with home users.

    At the same time, the largest majority of all users out there hate the idea of passwords and complain about the length and complexity of letters and numbers that must contain at least 1 capital letter and one number.
    Throw a special character in there and their heads would explode. I get asked all the time, "can I just give you one to use?" ,, "No, sorry, it won't let us do that. you can not use any of the last 13 passwords." (which at a 90 day time frame is a little over 3 years). And some of them HAAAaaatttttee and LLLLllloooaaattthhhh that idea.

    psst, hey, we can set any password you want, but I won't do it. so stop asking.

    so, what do they do, at almost every place I have worked at? Write in on a sticky and slap it on their laptop keyboard area (or write it in sharpy on palm rest) that is PGP encrypted. Smart.
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  9. Posts : 11
    Windows 7
       #18

    windows7user said:
    johnwillyums said:
    12, 21. Would it really make any difference with current technology. If they want to get in they will. It'll just take a few milliseconds longer surely?
    By brute force, it would take around 1.75 times longer to crack a 21 alphanumeric password compared to a 12 alphanumeric password.

    If people remember combinatorics from middle school, they would know that using a password with only alpha characters can substantially cut down the time required to crack a password. For example:

    A 12 letter password using only alpha: 12*26! combinations or 4.8*10^27
    A 12 letter password using alpha and digits: 12*36! combinations or 4.5*10^42

    By mixing in numbers to your password, you increased the number of possible combinations by ~937,500,000,000,000 times.
    Interesting ! , I'm sure adding symbols will make it even harder to crack a password.
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  10. Posts : 11
    Windows 7
       #19

    CarlTR6 said:
    Passwords are like locks; they don't deter the determined.
    You're right , especially if the determined has the key
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