[seqfan] Re: Bad sequences for passwords

[Maximilian Hasler]

> Of course passwords must be not only finite, but short. But Chris
> nevertheless makes a good point about hiding in plain sight. If hackers are
> busy thinking my password is my dog's name, they might not think to try the
> first few odd-indexed prime numbers (A031368 <http://oeis.org/A031368>) or
> maybe even the Fibonacci numbers.

a "short" password with only digits is cracked much easier
than a password of the same length having upper & lowercase letters
and digits and maybe some among a restricted subset of symbols...

OTOH, your password may be as good as possible, but
as long as many websites send back your password in plain text (argh!!),
about any employee taking care of the computers at the enterprise(s)
storing your mails (may be where you work or at gmail or hotmail etc
and maybe also at your ISP, not to speak anyone who succeeded in
spoofing your network and/or putting some malware on your computer)
can read it...

In particular, in case you use the so-called "find friends" function
on any of the social or professional network web sites (or worse, you
use the same password there than for your mailbox), that website (and
emplyees there) also can read your password in plain text...

Just to say...

Maximilian