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Thread ID: 134360 2013-06-24 05:29:00 Why such complex passwords?! stuffed (1469) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1346782 2013-06-25 02:35:00 Where do you think the crackers get their dictionary lists from?

(If the service is free, then you are the product not the customer...)

Yes but you're more likely to remember "correcthorsebatterystaple" than you are "zk32c981Fn%" right? ;)
Chilling_Silence (9)
1346783 2013-06-25 03:34:00 In order for a dictionary attack to be much easier than a brute force one first you'd have to know how many proper words it contained.
As long as it's possible to use any password you like there's no way for a cracker to know if you've got a complex 10 digit password or a 20digit one made from 4 words so they have to try it all. Ultimately if someone really wants to crack your password they can, but the longer it is the longer it'll take.

Computers these days have so much power that a 8 digit or shorter password can be found in an amazingly short time in theory, in practice most systems that detect more than a few failed attempts in a row will lock you out making such things impossible. Things like Wi-Fi passwords should probably be quite long to block casual hackers
dugimodo (138)
1346784 2013-06-25 04:25:00 Yes but you're more likely to remember "correcthorsebatterystaple" than you are "zk32c981Fn%" right? ;)

The first is easy because you only need to remember 4 things - each word. The second is harder because it's 11 things with no pattern. But remembering short sequences of random things is easier, so you can break it into pieces and remember those instead.
Agent_24 (57)
1346785 2013-06-25 04:33:00 Oh I'm not saying it's not impossible... I'm saying if I gave you 10 seconds, you'll remember the first, not the second :p Chilling_Silence (9)
1346786 2013-06-25 07:17:00 Yes but you're more likely to remember "correcthorsebatterystaple" than you are "zk32c981Fn%" right? ;)

Definitely.

I'm just dubious as to who is behind the "check your password here" sites...
fred_fish (15241)
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