How do you generate passwords? [closed]

Answer 1

You will have to code extra rules to check that your password is acceptable for the system you are writing it for. Some systems have policies like "two digits and two uppercase letters minimum" and so on. As you generate your password character by character, keep a count of the digits/alpha/uppercase as required, and wrap the password generation in a do..while that will repeat the password generation until (digitCount>1 && alphaCount>4 && upperCount>1), or whatever.

Answer 2

In some circumstances, I use Perl's Crypt::PassGen module, which uses Markov chain analysis on a corpus of words (e.g. /usr/share/dict/words on any reasonably Unix system). This allows it to generate passwords that turn out to be reasonably pronounceable and thus remember.

That said, at $work we are moving to hardware challenge/response token mechanisms.

Answer 3

Password Monkey, iGoogle widget!

Answer 4

I generate random printable ASCII characters with a Perl program and then tweak the script if there's extra rules to help me generate a more "secure" password. I can keep the password on a post-it note and then destroy it after one or two days; my fingers will have memorized it, and my password will be completely unguessable.

This is for my primary login password, something I use every day, and in fact many times a day as I sit down and unlock my screen. This makes it easy to memorize fast. Obviously passwords for other situations have to use a different mechanism.

Answer 5

Mac OS X's "Keychain Access" application gives you access to the nice OS X password generator. Hit command-N and click the key icon. You get to choose password style (memorable, numeric, alphanumeric, random, FIPS-181) and choose the length. It also warns you about weak passwords.

Answer 6

I use password safe to generate and store all my passwords, that way you don't have to remember super strong passwords (well except the one that unlocks your safe).