One way to discourage users from writing down passwords is to stop the
idiotic practice of expecting them to remember strong passwords - they
can't! So if you're imposing a policy of strong passwords you must assume
they'll be written down. Strong passwords are a token.
Strong passwords, by definition can't be remembered. They have to change
frequently and they're not to be used on multiple systems which would expose
them to the "weakest link" syndrome.
Here's Kousky's Algorithm - we've been teaching it for five years and it's
still better than most simple alternatives.
One option to help is to let them write them down - even tape them to their
machines, but leave a four digit pin missing from the string. It can be
after each capital letter in the string so what is written down is:
Kw3$34Q3@AS
But the real submitted password requires my four digit pin: 1234 be inserted
after each capital letter ... that is, after the K goes a 1, after the Q
goes the 2, etc.
Real submitted string is
K1w3$34Q23@A3S4
If you don't get over the crazy idea of strong passwords you're part of the
problem. We need strong strings to submit over the wire or on a laptop and
that can best be served by multifactor solutions.
We consider this one and a half factors. Strong factors are hard to
duplicate and you know if they're missing.
You might also check out our paper for '02 - "Strong Passwords are an
Oxymoron"
Regards
KWK
IP3 Inc.
-----Original Message-----
From: listbounce@securityfocus.com [mailto:listbounce@securityfocus.com] On
Behalf Of Mario A. Spinthiras
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 7:52 AM
To: MandommGmail
Cc: security-basics@securityfocus.com
Subject: Re: Security procedure question
Even so if the method i mentioned previously on this thread is applied ,
even if the user is foolish enough to avoid or unable to understand and
apply the theory of a password then maybe they shouldn't be working
anywhere near computers - but thankfully for the unbelievably stupid my
method works since it applies to the following criteria:
1. Who you are (Biometric authentication)
2. What you know (The password of the unintelligent ignorant user)
3. What you have (The usb stick with the key on it)
To my opinion, any user not following a company's security policy should
be either arrested for possible industrial espionage and/or sabotage of
the company. The minimum impact should be his/her dismissal from the
company as an employee.
Regards,
Mario A. Spinthiras
MandommGmail wrote:
I'm concerned about a user leaving the id and password on paper in or
near the laptop.
There is no way one can defend against a user who decides to stick a
sticky pad on his laptop and leaves his password there. The best
encryption tool does not defend against human stupidity.
Alex
----- Original Message ----- From: "Saqib Ali" <docbook.xml@gmail.com>
To: "Brown, Sam" <sbrown@ashe.ucla.edu>; <mario@netway.com.cy>;
<lists@hwf.cc>
Cc: <security-basics@securityfocus.com>
Sent: Friday, September 22, 2006 1:26 AM
Subject: Re: Security procedure question
If you don't mind, can I ask what product you selected? There are some
full/whole disc encryption implementations that support TPM. See the
URL for description:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FDE#Full_disk_encryption_and_Trusted_Platform_M
odule
If your laptops are TPM enabled the full disc encryption software can
wrap the decryption key with TPM, so the user won't have to remember
or note down an extra username/password.
On 9/20/06, Brown, Sam <sbrown@ashe.ucla.edu> wrote:
We're going to be deploying whole disk encryption to our laptops so
I am
interested in hearing how others have distributed the software
encryption ID's and passwords to users. I'm concerned about a user
leaving the id and password on paper in or near the laptop.
Sam Brown
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