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Tired of memorizing passwords? Manuel Blum came up with this algorithmic trick

networkworld.com

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Re: Tired of memorizing passwords? Manuel Blum came up with this algorithmic trick

#4

Post by jeremysmyth »

This method fails as soon as you have to change a password:

- One of the sites is compromised

- One of your devices is stolen/lost and you have to change some passwords

- One of the sites has a password expiration policy

Pretty soon you end up with multiple password schemes and you're in precisely the same situation as before, wondering which password goes with which site, only this time you have to perform algorithmic dances in addition to memory feats.

Re: Tired of memorizing passwords? Manuel Blum came up with this algorithmic trick

#5

Post by jordanwallwork »

dyates wrote: post #3

And now your password strength is a function of the length of the site's name. Great! EDIT: This seems like much more effort than just using a password manager, or even just a stronger, memorable passphrase or two.

You could always just pick a number that you want to use and repeat/trim the name? So if you picked 9 you'd use AMAZONAMA as the base for amazon, but HACKERNEW for hacker news?

Re: Tired of memorizing passwords? Manuel Blum came up with this algorithmic trick

#6

Post by OrangeTux »

dyates wrote: post #3

And now your password strength is a function of the length of the site's name. Great! EDIT: This seems like much more effort than just using a password manager, or even just a stronger, memorable passphrase or two.

It's probably saver than 'password123' which is the alternative for most people.

Re: Tired of memorizing passwords? Manuel Blum came up with this algorithmic trick

#7

Post by jeremysmyth »

jordanwallwork wrote: post #5
dyates wrote: post #3

And now your password strength is a function of the length of the site's name. Great! EDIT: This seems like much more effort than just using a password manager, or even just a stronger, memorable passphrase or two.

You could always just pick a number that you want to use and repeat/trim the name? So if you picked 9 you'd use AMAZONAMA as the base for amazon, but HACKERNEW for hacker news?

Hmm, did I use "hacker news" or did I use "ycombinator" or did I use "news.ycombinator" or....?

You have to be specific when you pick the algorithm if it's to work the way the author suggests, and preferably something that is not easily shifted, such as the domain name and not the site's title.

Re: Tired of memorizing passwords? Manuel Blum came up with this algorithmic trick

#8

Post by facepalm »

Not sure if memorizing a 6x6 matrix and computing that password in one's head is very efficient.

Also, shouldn't there be standard encryption schemes for doing stuff in your head? That homemade matrix encryption is probably not very hard to break.

Re: Tired of memorizing passwords? Manuel Blum came up with this algorithmic trick

#10

Post by jordanwallwork »

jeremysmyth wrote: post #7
jordanwallwork wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You could always just pick a number that you want to use and repeat/trim the name? So if you picked 9 you'd use AMAZONAMA as the base for amazon, but HACKERNEW for hacker news?

Hmm, did I use "hacker news" or did I use "ycombinator" or did I use "news.ycombinator" or....? You have to be specific when you pick the algorithm if it's to work the way the author suggests, and preferably something that is not easily shifted, such as the domain name and not the site's title.

Yeah I did mull over whether to use news.ycombinator, but I call it hacker news so that's what I went for - I can't really think of a website that I have multiple names for, so not sure that'd confusion over the name would really be much of an issue
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