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Groups > linux.debian.user > #185789

Re: One-line password generator

From Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk>
Newsgroups linux.debian.user
Subject Re: One-line password generator
Date 2017-08-23 21:20 +0200
Message-ID <uhJm2-4yp-17@gated-at.bofh.it> (permalink)
References (2 earlier) <uhnOx-7kH-11@gated-at.bofh.it> <uhq02-hY-35@gated-at.bofh.it> <uhFBL-2c7-1@gated-at.bofh.it> <uhHay-30H-13@gated-at.bofh.it> <uhI6B-3C9-11@gated-at.bofh.it>
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On Wed 23 Aug 2017 at 12:58:19 -0500, Mario Castelán Castro wrote:

> On 23/08/17 11:57, Brian wrote:
> >> If you do not care about security, you could generate a single 4
> >> character bit block with my method and save typing.
> > 
> > One online password checker (not that I understand how it works or even
> > trust it) gives
> > 
> >  IhaveaMemorablePasswordwhichIwillnotforget!
> > 
> > 211.6 bits of entropy and rates it as "very strong" and "overkill". I'd
> > place any discomfort with having to type a long password low down on my
> > list password formation difficulties. Long, with some complexity and
> > memorable goes a long way to securing accounts on a computer or on the
> > web.
> 
> Entropy is just another way of expressing probability. More
> specifically, entropy in bits is the logarithm in base 1/2 of the
> probability.
> 
> It only makes sense to speak of probability (or equivalently, entropy)
> when there is a clearly defined probability distribution.
> 
> The kind of passwords that you suggest are generated combining fragments
> of your knowledge in an ad-hoc way. Thus although we could *speak* of
> the probability distribution of your method, as applied by you, the
> actual probabilities are unknowable.
> 
> The relevant probability distribution for password strength is the one
> that the attacker will assume. The online password checker has no way to
> know this, therefore the figures it gives are utter bullshit. Not only
> you should not trust it, you should ignore it completely.
> 
> With my method, the probability distribution is well defined: Each
> character is chosen independently and uniformly distributed from a set
> of 64, thus it has 6 bits of entropy.

To make progress. we should go along with that.

> >> No, I am not digressing. Not every password is equally important. How
> >> important is the password you use to post in a forum that you will not
> >> visit again? Is it as important as the password of your GNU PG private key?
> > 
> > Developing good practice with password management is what is important.
> > If that weak password leads to a compromise of the account then it could
> > end up with a ruined reputation for someone, depending on what happens.
> > An ingrained habit of always creating a good password is a respectable
> > life skill.
> 
> It is very ironic that you are now talking about the importance of
> strong passwords, while at the same time you advocate a non-well-defined
> method for password generation that probably gives weak passwords.
> 
> As for the scenario where the password is compromised and that leads to
> somebody posting slander in one behalf, that can happen without any need
> for password cracking. Anybody can create a profile in a social network
> pretending to be you with the intention to taint your reputation.
> 
> Hence that only your reputation as perceived by stupid people would
> suffer from such an attack.

A slander coming from your own (compromised) account is somewhat
different from one posted from a created account. It is a lot harder
to deny one but not the other.

> > I actually like your method; its making the outcome of it memorable
> > which I have difficulty with. I have no hesitation in saying the chances
> > of my memorising
> > 
> >  u19rX2JjTM5salGIYfrO1w
> > 
> > is nil. I suppose I could put more effort into forming a mnemonic, but
> > I'd likely forget that too. On the other hand I could write it in my
> > notebook. That's probably the way to go. Then I leave my notebook at
> > home.
> 
> I acknowledge that devising a mnemonic for the whole password in a
> single run is nor practical. Hence that my suggestion (which I already
> described in a previous message) is that if you need to memorize it
> instead of storing it in a password manager then you generate and
> memorize it by chunks of 4 characters.

I am happy with that.
 
> > "Probably" is probably good enough. The probability of either of the two
> > previous passwords being deduced from pure guessing is close to zero.
> 
> It is not human guessing, but brute force attacks with specialized
> hardware what you should try to protect against.

It is all "human guessing". Think about it. Machines do not guess by
themselves. Not yet anyway!

Two passwords:

  IhaveaMemorablePasswordwhichIwillnotforget!

  MyDogHasNoNose.HowDoesItSmell?Terrible!

Please would you give your opinion of how long it would take to brute
force these over the network.

(I do not understand "specialized hardware" when it is network attacks.)

-- 
Brian.

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Thread

One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-08-22 17:10 +0200
  Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-22 21:50 +0200
    Re: One-line password generator <tomas@tuxteam.de> - 2017-08-22 22:10 +0200
      Re: One-line password generator John Hasler <jhasler@newsguy.com> - 2017-08-22 22:50 +0200
        Re: One-line password generator Jude DaShiell <jdashiel@panix.com> - 2017-08-23 14:40 +0200
    Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-08-22 22:20 +0200
      Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-08-22 22:20 +0200
      Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-08-22 22:30 +0200
        Re: One-line password generator Glenn English <ghe2001@gmail.com> - 2017-08-23 22:40 +0200
      Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-23 00:40 +0200
        Re: One-line password generator Lck Ras <likcoras@riseup.net> - 2017-08-23 02:30 +0200
          Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-23 19:20 +0200
            Re: One-line password generator Lck Ras <likcoras@riseup.net> - 2017-08-24 03:00 +0200
        Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-08-23 17:20 +0200
          Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-23 19:00 +0200
            Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-08-23 20:00 +0200
              Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-23 21:20 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-08-24 01:10 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-24 19:50 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator David Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk> - 2017-08-25 03:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Curt <curty@free.fr> - 2017-08-25 10:50 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-25 11:30 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-08-25 15:40 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-25 16:50 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-08-25 18:10 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-25 19:20 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-08-25 20:10 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-25 20:50 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-08-25 21:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-25 19:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-08-25 19:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-08-25 19:20 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-25 20:20 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-25 19:20 +0200
    Re: One-line password generator Jape Person <japers@comcast.net> - 2017-08-22 22:20 +0200
      Re: One-line password generator Jude DaShiell <jdashiel@panix.com> - 2017-08-23 14:40 +0200
    Re: One-line password generator Mike McClain <mike.junk.46@att.net> - 2017-08-23 03:10 +0200
  Re: One-line password generator Teemu Likonen <tlikonen@iki.fi> - 2017-08-23 06:10 +0200
  Re: One-line password generator Aaron Toponce <aaron.toponce@gmail.com> - 2017-08-23 21:20 +0200
    Re: One-line password generator Greg Wooledge <wooledg@eeg.ccf.org> - 2017-08-23 21:30 +0200
      Re: One-line password generator Aaron Toponce <aaron.toponce@gmail.com> - 2017-08-23 21:40 +0200
        Re: One-line password generator Fungi4All <fungilife@protonmail.com> - 2017-08-23 22:50 +0200
          Re: One-line password generator Terence <terence.john@gmail.com> - 2017-08-23 23:40 +0200
  Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-26 20:30 +0200
    Re: One-line password generator Nicolas George <george@nsup.org> - 2017-08-26 20:40 +0200
      Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-26 21:10 +0200
        Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-27 16:00 +0200
    Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-26 21:20 +0200
      Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-27 16:00 +0200
        Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-27 17:10 +0200
          Re: One-line password generator Curt <curty@free.fr> - 2017-08-27 20:10 +0200
          Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-27 20:10 +0200
            Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-27 21:10 +0200
              Re: One-line password generator Andy Smith <andy@strugglers.net> - 2017-08-28 00:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-28 09:40 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Curt <curty@free.fr> - 2017-08-28 11:40 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-28 12:10 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Andy Smith <andy@strugglers.net> - 2017-08-28 13:50 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-28 15:20 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Zenaan Harkness <zenaan@freedbms.net> - 2017-08-29 04:40 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-29 09:10 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Zenaan Harkness <zenaan@freedbms.net> - 2017-08-29 10:50 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Zenaan Harkness <zenaan@freedbms.net> - 2017-08-29 11:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-29 12:50 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Zenaan Harkness <zenaan@freedbms.net> - 2017-08-29 13:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-29 14:30 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Zenaan Harkness <zenaan@freedbms.net> - 2017-08-30 03:50 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-30 12:40 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Andy Smith <andy@strugglers.net> - 2017-08-29 14:10 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-29 15:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Zenaan Harkness <zenaan@freedbms.net> - 2017-08-30 03:50 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Greg Wooledge <wooledg@eeg.ccf.org> - 2017-08-30 14:20 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2017-08-30 14:50 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-30 15:20 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2017-08-30 15:30 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-30 15:50 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2017-08-30 16:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Greg Wooledge <wooledg@eeg.ccf.org> - 2017-08-30 16:10 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2017-08-30 18:50 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-30 16:30 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2017-08-30 20:10 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-30 23:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-09-01 10:40 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-09-01 10:50 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Curt <curty@free.fr> - 2017-08-30 16:30 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-30 17:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-30 20:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Zenaan Harkness <zenaan@freedbms.net> - 2017-08-29 11:00 +0200
            Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-27 21:20 +0200
              Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-29 21:20 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Reco <recoverym4n@gmail.com> - 2017-08-29 21:40 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-29 22:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-29 23:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Curt <curty@free.fr> - 2017-08-30 10:50 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-08-30 12:40 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Reco <recoverym4n@gmail.com> - 2017-08-30 00:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-31 21:10 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Fungi4All <fungilife@protonmail.com> - 2017-08-31 21:20 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Reco <recoverym4n@gmail.com> - 2017-08-31 21:40 +0200
    Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-08-27 04:20 +0200
      Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-08-27 16:00 +0200
        Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-08-27 16:40 +0200
  Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-09-01 17:00 +0200
    Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-09-01 21:50 +0200
      Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-09-01 23:50 +0200
        Re: One-line password generator Jude DaShiell <jdashiel@panix.com> - 2017-09-02 11:50 +0200
          Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-09-02 13:00 +0200
            Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-09-02 19:20 +0200
              Re: One-line password generator Jude DaShiell <jdashiel@panix.com> - 2017-09-02 20:30 +0200
              Re: One-line password generator "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-09-02 21:00 +0200
                Re: One-line password generator Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-09-02 22:00 +0200
      Re: One-line password generator Zenaan Harkness <zenaan@freedbms.net> - 2017-09-02 01:50 +0200
    Re: One-line password generator Zenaan Harkness <zenaan@freedbms.net> - 2017-09-02 01:50 +0200
      Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-09-02 04:40 +0200
        Re: One-line password generator Zenaan Harkness <zenaan@freedbms.net> - 2017-09-02 05:40 +0200
          Re: One-line password generator Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc.MT@yandex.com> - 2017-09-02 16:40 +0200
            Re: One-line password generator Zenaan Harkness <zenaan@freedbms.net> - 2017-09-04 01:10 +0200

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