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Ken Thompson's Unix Password

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11–20 of 665 posts

Re: Ken Thompson's Unix Password

#11
A slight nitpick with the article - `p/q2-q4` (more commonly written as "1. d4" in modern times) is not the Closed Game, it's just the first move of it. There are many, many other lines after 1. d4 besides just 1. ..d5, most of them quite open!

Re: Ken Thompson's Unix Password

#13
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would have borrowed "/.,/.," a long time ago had I heard about it sooner. That is just way too convenient.

My first password ever was qazwsx and I used it until I learned that it's included in "known" password text files and thus instantly crackable. However, I wonder how safe it is to take an "easy" password like /.,/.,/., and then add a bunch of exclamation points to the end, so that it's both long and not part of a dictionary. I'm sure password crackers are advanced enough to first try taking common passwords and then…

Is your username an ode to this somehow? :)

Mr. Asdf sir

Re: Ken Thompson's Unix Password

#16

A slight nitpick with the article - `p/q2-q4` (more commonly written as "1. d4" in modern times) is not the Closed Game, it's just the first move of it. There are many, many other lines after 1. d4 besides just 1. ..d5, most of them quite open!

It is the beginning of the closed game, which is what the article says.

Seems like a vacuous nitpick.

Re: Ken Thompson's Unix Password

#17
post #2

> Did he really use uppercase letters or even special chars? Why would he not? I'm obviously missing something here.

Typing on a teletype is painful at the best of times. One reason why common Unix commands are so short.

Edit: Yes I have used a teletype, connected to an Elliott computer, I believe it was a 903 or at least it looked very much like this: http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/32480/Elliott-903

Re: Ken Thompson's Unix Password

#18

A slight nitpick with the article - `p/q2-q4` (more commonly written as "1. d4" in modern times) is not the Closed Game, it's just the first move of it. There are many, many other lines after 1. d4 besides just 1. ..d5, most of them quite open!

[deleted]

Re: Ken Thompson's Unix Password

#19
post #2

> Did he really use uppercase letters or even special chars? Why would he not? I'm obviously missing something here.

The early days of mainframes had some groups of individuals who advocated for no passwords or just your username again as a password: https://www.oreilly.com/openbook/freedom/ch07.html

In the future, there won't be any need for passwords.

Re: Ken Thompson's Unix Password

#20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My first password ever was qazwsx and I used it until I learned that it's included in "known" password text files and thus instantly crackable. However, I wonder how safe it is to take an "easy" password like /.,/.,/., and then add a bunch of exclamation points to the end, so that it's both long and not part of a dictionary. I'm sure password crackers are advanced enough to first try taking common passwords and then…

Is your username an ode to this somehow? :) Mr. Asdf sir

Nope, but by an old internet meme: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/asdfmovie
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