RE: john the ripper

[Charles Clancy <clancy () www missl cs umd edu>]

If you're introducing a smartcard, you might as well just use public-key
authentication.

[ t. charles clancy ]--[ tcc () umd edu ]--[ www.cs.umd.edu/~clancy ]

On Wed, 10 Dec 2003, Jason Watson wrote:

> Hi people,
>
> For a few years I have had this idea in my head about a secure(er)
> authentication system to that of telling the user the password.  My system
> is basically still a password system but it uses a key-card to access (there
> are several of these systems out there).  the password is then stored by PGP
> (GnuPGP) in a 1024 bit hash, everyday at a "random" time the password server
> sends a new (encrypted of course) key to the card reader which stores the
> new password on it's magnetic strip).  Everytime the password is read a new
> password is sent.  This would easily allow for 1000 character passwords, in
> turn increasing system security dramatically.  Passwords alone are never
> going to secure systems but every little-bit helps.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Jason Watson.
>
> > Okay, I hear what you're saying about the amount of time being used and
> > all... but..
> >
> > If your users are like the ones I've seen, that "reasonably strong"
> > password (such as &Y6N8gg0 -- presumably strong) is just going to get
> > written down on a sticky tab and put on the users monitor or under their
> > keyboard.  The point is, while you've done a great job creating a strong
> > keyspace which is difficult to break, I may open up a bigger problem.
> > The goal is to get through the proverbial wall.  Whether I do that by
> > breaking through the bricks or scaling it or just going around, it
> > doesn't really matter to me.  If I make the wall thicker, that just
> > moves the problem -- I'm still interested in getting to the other side,
> > and I know I won't be able break through it, so off I go to find a
> > different solution...
> >
> > Just my thoughts.
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Benjamin Tomhave [mailto:falcon () secureconsulting net]
> > Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 10:58 AM
> > To: pen-test () securityfocus com
> > Subject: RE: john the ripper
> >
> > Scary numbers...so, semi-drifting question: how long is an "acceptable"
> > length of time to run a cracker before pronouncing that uncracked
> > passwords
> > are "reasonably strong and well-chosen"?
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Mike [mailto:myname17 () bellsouth net]
> > > Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 3:45 AM
> > > To: Giacomo; pen-test () securityfocus com
> > > Subject: Re: john the ripper
> > >
> > >
> > > I recently did a little research on this, and if the password was
> > > well chosen
> > > you will not find the password.
> > >
> > > An 8 character password, based on a 72 character set (26 lower
> > > case letters,
> > > 26 uppercase letters, 10 digits, and 10 special characters)
> > > results in 72^8
> > > or 7.2x10^14 possible passwords.  My reference PC was only able
> > > to crack at
> > > 1500c/s.  Doing the math reveals that 150,000 years would be required
> > to
> > > crack all combinations, or 75,000 years on average.  For a 12
> > character
> > > password the result was 2,000,000,000,000 years.
> > >
> > > If my math is wrong, please break it to me gently.
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > > On Tuesday 02 December 2003 10:52 am, Giacomo wrote:
> > > > Hi all
> > > >
> > > > I am tryning to crack cisco md5 password.
> > > > Currently I am using a Athlon XP2500barton at 2300mhz, after 17days
> > john
> > > > continue to crack at 3800c/s (it started at 4500c/s).
> > > > I am asking myself and all of you what is the best system (hardware)
> > to
> > > > crack md5 password.
> > > > I am thinking that the best way Is the powerfull (mhz) i386 in
> > commerce.
> > > > I've tried OpenMosix with 4 p500 nodes with john and cisilia, but
> > > > without lucky results.
> > > > The sun 280 (dual 64bits cpu at 900mhz) go to a poor 900c/s
> > > >
> > > > which is you reference system to use john on md5 password ?
> > > >
> > > > Giacomo
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > ---------
> > > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > ---------
> > > > -
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > ---------
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > ----------
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ---
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ----
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Download MSN Messenger @  http://messenger.xtramsn.co.nz   - talk to family
> and friends overseas!
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------