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Re: [RC] [RC] Whats New with SERA - password safety - Mike Sofen

Essentially all password systems are case sensitive and allow for numbers
and symbols.  Using mixed upper and lower case doubles the possible
combinations for a given password (making it twice as hard to crack), e.g.,
"horsesandmules" would become "HorsesAndMules".  Adding a leading or middle
"7" expands the possible combinations again ("7HorsesAndMules" or
"HorsesAnd7Mules").

But the best (and easiest to remember) approach is to replace certain
letters with a symbol that matches (or sort of matches) the shape or intent
of the letter.  So "HorsesAnd7Mules" could become "H0r$e$@nd7Mu1e$".  Note
the second character is a zero not the letter o.  S's are replaced with
dollar signs, the letter a is replaced with the @ symbol.

Most password crackers use a large dictionary of standard words and catch
many passwords ONLY due to no symbols being used in the password.  You could
easily use a password like "H0r$e$!" will a high probability of safety.

Mike Sofen

-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Ed & Wendy Hauser
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 7:59 AM
To: David LeBlanc; 'Truman Prevatt'; 'Ride Camp'
Subject: Re: [RC] Whats New with SERA


"and user-chosen passwords
tend to be very weak. There's a serious risk here even if your system isn't
compromised. This is why I think the advice to:"

Could you give us some advice as to how to choose passwords that are hard to
guess?

I have heard that while:

"horsesandmules"

would be weak because all the words are in a dictionary

"selumdnasesroh" would be better and "selumdna7sesroh" even better

it may even be easy to remember if you owned 7 horses and mules.

Ed



Ed & Wendy Hauser
2994 Mittower Road
Victor, MT 59875

ranch@xxxxxxxxxxx
406.642.6490


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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

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Replies
Re: [RC] Whats New with SERA, Ed & Wendy Hauser