Re: random passwords

From	Rich <rich@example.invalid>
Newsgroups	comp.os.linux.misc
Subject	Re: random passwords
Date	2018-08-23 16:33 +0000
Organization	A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID	<plmnln$htd$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References	(3 earlier) <plkv63$ab3$1@dont-email.me> <pllofa$fbr$1@news1.tnib.de> <plm57g$p91$2@dont-email.me> <878t4xgouh.fsf_-_@miko.siamics.net> <plmgum0o30@news1.newsguy.com>

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Jean-David Beyer <jeandavid8@verizon.net> wrote:
> I use passwords that look a little like that. For example, here is one I
> used to use to log into some place:
> 
> BkdMifjRpkaLdX
> 
> My guess is that it is pretty random. The way I produced it includes
> digits and many special characters. By chance, it did not use any for
> this one, but the attacker would have had to try them anyway because
> they might have been there. 

Well, an attacker would (if they were trying to brute force the
password) work their way up from lower number of combinations to higher
combinations.

So they would first try all possible lowercase at 14 characters long,
which gives:

  $ echo "26^14" | bc
  64509974703297150976

possible combinations.  Now, how quickly they could exhaust this space
depends on what computational power they can throw at the effort.

Next, they would move on to all possible upper/lower case at 14
characters long (but they would not recheck the 64509974703297150976
they had already checked, as they've already checked those), which
requires at most:

  $ echo "52^14 - 64509974703297150976" | bc 
  1056866915564117224439808

tests.

This is somewhere in the range of 2^80 possibilities for worst case and
2^79 (half size) for best case brute force.  This is probably secure
against brute force with todays technology.  Twenty years from now,
well, the equation will change some by then.

> And now it is too late and I will not use that one again.

Yes, it is now exposed, so don't use it anywhere again.

This also points out the advantage of a password manager with a random
password generator built in.  One can create new, arbitrary, passwords
of whatever length with a simple button push.  I.e.:

PFV_(XWqJ0bSNw
DC24nuBbZPnH|2
\bXDJ)?/2LrWMo
uiK1Q5V#x$9soN
nr)MAI-(Zis$E-

And of course if one wants longer, it is again a simple button press:

p^\qmgZvTve9(|0V8V0B+4Kb
DpJSb~?37LQlLJ+pl$o\oc1S
&obi4/_4?K=vg~MNhq6v2=/c
^&Sp+XEB#I1p6cNO/Ia0BZ)V
(C+#Yz/@R-Pydw8^+UM=rGqq

The ease of producing these (those above were generated by the one I
use) is part of what makes managers a significant benefit even in light
of the potential for single point of failure that they also exhibit.

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Thread

Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades Nobody <noreply@mixnym.net> - 2018-08-22 16:44 -0500
  Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-22 22:04 +0000
    Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades Grant Taylor <gtaylor@tnetconsulting.net> - 2018-08-22 16:22 -0600
      Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-23 00:29 +0000
        Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades Arlen Holder <arlenholder@nospam.net> - 2018-08-23 01:37 +0000
        Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2018-08-23 09:41 +0200
          Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2018-08-23 11:19 +0000
            random passwords Ivan Shmakov <ivan@siamics.net> - 2018-08-23 14:05 +0000
              Re: random passwords Jean-David Beyer <jeandavid8@verizon.net> - 2018-08-23 10:39 -0400
                Re: random passwords Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2018-08-23 16:33 +0000
                Re: random passwords Ivan Shmakov <ivan@siamics.net> - 2018-08-23 16:57 +0000
                Re: random passwords Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2018-08-23 17:07 +0000
              Re: random passwords Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2018-08-23 09:47 -0500
                Re: random passwords Wouter Verhelst <w@uter.be> - 2018-08-24 10:16 +0200
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-24 11:46 +0100
                Re: random passwords Jean-David Beyer <jeandavid8@verizon.net> - 2018-08-24 09:19 -0400
                Re: random passwords Daniel60 <daniel47@eternal-september.org> - 2018-08-25 21:57 +1000
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-25 13:32 +0100
                Re: random passwords Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2018-08-25 20:05 +0000
              Re: random passwords Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-23 15:50 +0100
                Re: random passwords Ivan Shmakov <ivan@siamics.net> - 2018-08-23 16:40 +0000
                Re: random passwords Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2018-08-23 17:12 +0000
                Re: random passwords Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-23 18:49 +0100
                Re: random passwords Ivan Shmakov <ivan@siamics.net> - 2018-09-01 13:45 +0000
                Re: random passwords Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2018-09-01 15:02 +0000
                Re: random passwords Allodoxaphobia <knock_yourself_out@example.net> - 2018-09-01 16:54 +0000
                Re: random passwords Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2018-09-04 07:37 +0100
              Re: random passwords Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2018-08-23 15:12 +0000
                Re: random passwords Jean-David Beyer <jeandavid8@verizon.net> - 2018-08-23 12:49 -0400
                Re: random passwords Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2018-08-23 17:18 +0000
                Re: random passwords William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-23 17:27 +0000
                Re: random passwords Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2018-08-23 17:44 +0000
                Re: random passwords Grant Taylor <gtaylor@tnetconsulting.net> - 2018-08-23 12:38 -0600
                Re: random passwords Grant Taylor <gtaylor@tnetconsulting.net> - 2018-08-23 12:47 -0600
                Re: random passwords William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-24 02:20 +0000
                Re: random passwords Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2018-08-24 05:10 +0000
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-24 02:32 +0100
                Re: random passwords Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2018-08-24 01:56 +0000
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-24 11:37 +0100
                Re: random passwords Grant Taylor <gtaylor@tnetconsulting.net> - 2018-08-23 20:13 -0600
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-24 11:42 +0100
                Re: random passwords Chris Elvidge <chris@mshome.net> - 2018-08-24 11:55 +0100
                Re: random passwords Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2018-08-24 08:37 -0400
                Re: random passwords Chris Elvidge <chris@mshome.net> - 2018-08-24 13:51 +0100
                Re: random passwords Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2018-08-24 12:41 -0400
                Re: random passwords not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2018-08-25 02:03 +0000
                Re: random passwords Java Jive <java@evij.com.invalid> - 2018-08-25 11:32 +0100
                Re: random passwords Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2018-08-25 07:49 -0400
                Re: random passwords not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2018-08-27 23:12 +0000
                Re: random passwords not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2018-08-27 23:40 +0000
                Re: random passwords Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2018-08-27 20:10 -0400
                Re: random passwords William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-28 00:17 +0000
                Re: random passwords Jean-David Beyer <jeandavid8@verizon.net> - 2018-08-27 20:52 -0400
                Re: random passwords John Hasler <jhasler@newsguy.com> - 2018-08-27 22:31 -0500
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-28 10:23 +0100
                Re: random passwords William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-28 14:45 +0000
                Re: random passwords not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2018-08-28 23:00 +0000
                Re: random passwords William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-29 01:22 +0000
                Re: random passwords not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2018-08-29 07:21 +0000
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-29 11:37 +0100
                Re: random passwords William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-29 12:25 +0000
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-29 19:35 +0100
                Re: random passwords John Hasler <jhasler@newsguy.com> - 2018-08-29 17:46 -0500
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-30 06:53 +0100
                Re: random passwords John Hasler <jhasler@newsguy.com> - 2018-08-30 07:48 -0500
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-30 19:07 +0100
                Re: random passwords William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-31 00:36 +0000
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-31 03:10 +0100
                Re: random passwords Chris Elvidge <chris@mshome.net> - 2018-08-31 12:26 +0100
                Re: random passwords William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-29 23:36 +0000
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-29 11:35 +0100
                Re: random passwords not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2018-08-29 23:45 +0000
                Re: random passwords Ivan Shmakov <ivan@siamics.net> - 2018-08-24 18:07 +0000
                Re: random passwords William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-24 20:27 +0000
                Re: random passwords Bud Frede <frede@mouse-potato.com> - 2018-09-03 07:23 -0400
              Re: random passwords William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-23 17:02 +0000
                Re: random passwords Ivan Shmakov <ivan@siamics.net> - 2018-08-23 17:25 +0000
                Re: random passwords William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-23 17:32 +0000
                Re: random passwords Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2018-08-23 17:46 +0000
                Re: random passwords Ivan Shmakov <ivan@siamics.net> - 2018-08-23 18:07 +0000
                Re: random passwords Grant Taylor <gtaylor@tnetconsulting.net> - 2018-08-23 12:51 -0600
                Re: random passwords Allodoxaphobia <knock_yourself_out@example.net> - 2018-08-24 02:35 +0000
              Re: random passwords John Hasler <jhasler@newsguy.com> - 2018-08-25 11:13 -0500
                Re: random passwords Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2018-08-25 17:24 +0000
                Re: random passwords John Hasler <jhasler@newsguy.com> - 2018-08-25 13:17 -0500
                Re: random passwords Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2018-08-25 20:27 +0000
                Re: random passwords Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2018-08-25 21:28 -0500
                Re: random passwords Jean-David Beyer <jeandavid8@verizon.net> - 2018-08-26 01:19 -0400
                Re: random passwords Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2018-08-26 13:43 +0000
                Re: random passwords Ivan Shmakov <ivan@siamics.net> - 2018-08-26 14:15 +0000
                Re: random passwords Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2018-08-26 15:18 +0000
                Re: random passwords Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2018-08-26 09:30 -0500
                Re: random passwords Michael Black <mblack@pubnix.net> - 2018-08-26 11:44 -0400
                Re: random passwords John Hasler <jhasler@newsguy.com> - 2018-08-26 16:40 -0500
                Re: random passwords Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2018-08-26 21:11 -0500
                Re: random passwords Allodoxaphobia <knock_yourself_out@example.net> - 2018-08-28 13:29 +0000
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-28 14:32 +0100
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-27 07:17 +0100
                Re: random passwords Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2018-08-27 06:21 +0000
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-27 08:15 +0100
                Re: random passwords Roger Blake <rogblake@iname.invalid> - 2018-08-27 22:44 +0000
                Re: random passwords azigni <azigni@yahoo.com> - 2018-08-26 12:55 -0600
                Re: random passwords Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2018-08-26 19:19 +0000
                Re: random passwords Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2018-08-26 16:09 -0500
                Re: random passwords Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2018-08-26 21:32 +0000
                Re: random passwords Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2018-08-26 21:11 -0500
                Re: random passwords The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2018-08-27 07:19 +0100
                Re: random passwords Doug McIntyre <merlyn@dork.geeks.org> - 2018-08-26 00:41 -0500
                Re: random passwords Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2018-08-26 06:48 -0500
            Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2018-08-23 19:49 +0200
            Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades Bud Frede <frede@mouse-potato.com> - 2018-08-26 18:52 -0400
              Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-27 00:06 +0000
              Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades Dan Espen <dan1espen@gmail.com> - 2018-08-26 21:01 -0400
          Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-23 16:59 +0000
            Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> - 2018-08-23 18:46 +0000
              Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades Grant Taylor <gtaylor@tnetconsulting.net> - 2018-08-23 13:03 -0600
                Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> - 2018-08-24 00:33 +0000
                Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades Grant Taylor <gtaylor@tnetconsulting.net> - 2018-08-23 18:43 -0600
                Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> - 2018-08-24 05:16 +0000
                Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades Grant Taylor <gtaylor@tnetconsulting.net> - 2018-08-23 23:43 -0600
                secure file distribution Ivan Shmakov <ivan@siamics.net> - 2018-08-25 17:05 +0000
              Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2018-08-24 02:26 +0000
    Re: Vulnerability Affects All OpenSSH Versions Released in the Past Two Decades elvis-85650@notatla.org.uk - 2018-08-23 19:06 +0000

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