Cyber hackers study how to crack passwords and steal information. Network security experts are studying how to make passwords "impregnable" and maintain information security. An attack and a guard to become the network era of a game.
Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States have launched a study on cyber-cryptography and published research suggesting that websites and netizens use 12-digit passwords to prevent hackers from hacking.
12-bit
Many web sites now generally require users to enter 8-digit passwords when they log on, but the researchers say the passwords are fake because they use a set of video cards to successfully crack passwords in less than two hours.
"The length of the password determines how easily a password can be deciphered," CNN quoted Georgia Institute of Technology scientist Choshua Davis as saying. ”
Project team another scientist, Richard Boyd, said: "It is difficult to say how the future will develop, but for the moment, 12-bit characters should be the standard password length." ”
Academics have suggested using a 11-digit or 13-digit password, but researchers still recommend using a 12-digit password because it is "safe and convenient."
The researchers hypothesized that a technologically sophisticated hacker could use the computer to generate 1 trillion combination of passwords per second. In this case, the hacker takes 180 years to crack a 11-bit password. But if users press a key, using 12-digit password, to the current level of technology, hackers will take 17,134 years to crack.
Long password
English is only 26 letters, but a standard keyboard can enter 95 letters and symbols. The longer the number of password digits, there will be more permutations and combinations, so the lower the probability of the hacker guessing the password.
Some sites allow users to enter an extra long password. Boyd says he has seen the longest password appearing on a financial site. This site requires users to enter a 32-digit password.
As passwords grow longer, some network security experts advise netizens to use the whole sentence as a password, such as "The Wisconsin capital is not called Cheese City", or the more memorable sentence "I have two children: Jack and Jill".
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology say passwords must grow longer because computers and graphics cards are running faster, and hackers are improving their password levels.
Referring to the fast processing of graphics cards, Boyd said: "These accessories are cheap, just hundreds of dollars to install, the performance of ordinary computers can be compared with the advent of a few years ago the supercomputer." ”
Hard to remember
Passwords are getting longer and more complex, and it's a hassle to remember all these passwords. But some websites and businesses have a coping strategy.
A website called "Password Security" provides users with a list of passwords, but Davis and Boyd say hackers are still likely to get the list.
Some companies sell portable password cards. This type of electronic device with a key chain size can randomly generate a string of numbers. The user enters the serial number and password to log in successfully.
The safest approach, however, is for users to remember these passwords themselves.