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9 Replies Last post: Oct 15, 2007 7:56 PM by techie4fun

TechyGuy

701 posts since
Oct 6, 2007

Reply

Oct 15, 2007 1:43 PM

How Pathetic Your Password Really is

Ever wondered how strong your password(s) really are? Thought putting a 7at the end of "daisy" would fool any cracker out there? Actually, a single somewhat-modern Pc can break that password in less than an hour and a half by using the lo-tech "brute-force" technique(by the computer randomly guessing).

Here is a link to Lockdown UK's site that shows just how strong your passcode truly is. (click here) , the results'll probably surprise you.

Also, here is a list of the most common passcodes, and most machines can guess these instantaneously:

* password

* 123456

* qwerty

* abc123

* letmain

* monkey

* myspace1

* password1

* blink182

* (your first name) \\\\If your passcode is on this list, I'd reccomend changing it. It is also not wise to use a relative's name ofr your birthdate as a password, either.

Core 2 Quad Q6700 @ 3.44GHz | Asetek Liquid CPU Cooling | 2 x eVGA SSC GeForce 8800GTS G92 |512MB (SLi) | 2 x 150GB 10,000-rpm Western Dig. HDD RAID-0 array | MSI P6N Platinum 680i | 1.0KW PC Power & Cooling PSU | Lite-On DVD +/- RW

Reply Tags: password, hacker, passcode, cracker

mphenterprises

11,118 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

1. Oct 15, 2007 3:04 PM

in response to: TechyGuy

Re: How Pathetic Your Password Really is

Hi Techy. Very informative Discussion post. The user's birthdate in a six digit format MMDDYY is a very common password. When I go to my client's homes, and if I need a password to accomplish a task, I have been disappointedly surprised by how many people say this as their password.

Also, if acceptable, one should try to use symbols as well as letter and/or numbers. The more unique the password, the less likely it will be cracked by ordinary means.

If I may make a suggestion. Please post your message as a Document. Please click on the link to start a Document in the Answer Line Community. This way, your post will not get lost amongst other Discussions.

Good Job

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

Reply

lilxkid24

1,936 posts since
Jul 8, 2007

2. Oct 15, 2007 2:59 PM

in response to: TechyGuy

Re: How Pathetic Your Password Really is

i use passwords as easy as 12345 and has hard as iojnufdni lol.

AMD Athlon 64x2 4400 2.3ghz..... 2Gigs DDR2 240-pin DIMM.....BFG Nvidia 9800 GT 512MB.....320GB Seagate HDD.....Corsair VX 450w PSU.....Dell 20" E207WFP 1680x1050 resolution.....Windows XP Pro SP3 x86.....Windows 7 Ultimate x64

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amyjones09

17 posts since
Oct 1, 2007

3. Oct 15, 2007 3:17 PM

in response to: TechyGuy

Re: How Pathetic Your Password Really is

well i know my password is safe because it's only something i would know and it's something no one else has.

Reply

mphenterprises

11,118 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

4. Oct 15, 2007 3:27 PM

in response to: amyjones09

Re: How Pathetic Your Password Really is

Hi AmyJones. Welcome to PCWorld.

Password Protection is less to do with knowledge of the password and more about the actual password itself. There are applications that can decipher passwords. If someone is resilient enough to try and crack your password, there are applications out there that will assist him or her.

The more secure you make your password, the harder it will be for someone to crack it. Does this mean that there is a password that is unbreakable, no. However, you should not make it easy, you know?

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

Reply

TechyGuy

701 posts since
Oct 6, 2007

5. Oct 15, 2007 3:54 PM

in response to: mphenterprises

Re: How Pathetic Your Password Really is

Hi mph,
I created that doc. you proposed. It needs your approval before it is posted.
Thanks,
TechGuy

Core 2 Quad Q6700 @ 3.44GHz | Asetek Liquid CPU Cooling | 2 x eVGA SSC GeForce 8800GTS G92 |512MB (SLi) | 2 x 150GB 10,000-rpm Western Dig. HDD RAID-0 array | MSI P6N Platinum 680i | 1.0KW PC Power & Cooling PSU | Lite-On DVD +/- RW

Reply

mphenterprises

11,118 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

6. Oct 15, 2007 4:07 PM

in response to: TechyGuy

Re: How Pathetic Your Password Really is

I see it, very nice. Kellie makes the final approval on all Documents. As soon as she approves it, it will become public.

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

Reply

lilxkid24

1,936 posts since
Jul 8, 2007

7. Oct 15, 2007 6:34 PM

in response to: mphenterprises

Re: How Pathetic Your Password Really is

well if your key logged it doesn't matter how complex the pw is, it still can be gotten.

AMD Athlon 64x2 4400 2.3ghz..... 2Gigs DDR2 240-pin DIMM.....BFG Nvidia 9800 GT 512MB.....320GB Seagate HDD.....Corsair VX 450w PSU.....Dell 20" E207WFP 1680x1050 resolution.....Windows XP Pro SP3 x86.....Windows 7 Ultimate x64

Reply

mphenterprises

11,118 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

8. Oct 15, 2007 6:48 PM

in response to: lilxkid24

Re: How Pathetic Your Password Really is

LOL Very true; however, keyloggers are a completely different enemy. Now you start to get into virus, rootkits, etc., very ugly. I believe Techy is only referring to everyday usage, not taken into account malicious applications like keyloggers.

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

Reply

techie4fun

2,613 posts since
Oct 18, 2006

9. Oct 15, 2007 7:58 PM

in response to: TechyGuy

Re: How Pathetic Your Password Really is

TechGuy,

You are awsome man. I have yet to see any kind of post related to passwords, and I think you win on this one

I actually create my passwords using Password Generators, and sometimes if I don't want to have to memorize difficult ones (Would you call it laziness?) I make up things out of phrases. I also use symbols like ($@!%*) which helps make my passwords more secure. You should always have a Generic password and not have the same password for the same type of environment (Email, Business, Shopping, Ebay) or whatever online things you have running.

TechyGuy wrote:Ever wondered how strong your password(s) really are? Thought putting a 7at the end of "daisy" would fool any cracker out there? Actually, a single somewhat-modern Pc can break that password in less than an hour and a half by using the lo-tech "brute-force" technique(by the computer randomly guessing).

Here is a link to Lockdown UK's site that shows just how strong your passcode truly is. (click here) , the results'll probably surprise you.

Also, here is a list of the most common passcodes, and most machines can guess these instantaneously:

* password

* 123456

* qwerty

* abc123

* letmain

* monkey

* myspace1

* password1

* blink182

* (your first name) \\\\If your passcode is on this list, I'd reccomend changing it. It is also not wise to use a relative's name ofr your birthdate as a password, either.

Thanks for the web link- You earn another cookie just because I like you.

Reply

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