Re: Re: Do you trim() usernames and passwords?

On Dec 28, 2010, at 11:51 PM, Paul M Foster wrote: > On Tue, Dec 28, 2010 at 11:28:12PM -0500, Joshua Kehn wrote: > >> On Dec 28, 2010, at 6:28 PM, Paul M Foster wrote: >> >>> On Tue, Dec 28, 2010 at 03:11:56PM -0500, Joshua Kehn wrote: >>> >>>> Specifically: >>>> >>>>>> Dotan Cohen wrote: >>>>>>> I seem to have an issue with users who copy-paste their usernames and >>>>>>> passwords coping and pasting leading and trailing space characters. >>>> >>>> Users should not be copy-pasting passwords or usernames. Do not compromise a system >>>> to cater to bad [stupid, ignorant, you pick] users. If this is an issue then educate the users. >>>> >>> >>> Wrong. I use a program called pwgen to generate passwords for me, which >>> I cannot remember. I use another program I built to store them in an >>> encrypted file. When I have to supply a password which I've forgotten >>> (as usual), I fire up my password "vault", find the password, and paste >>> it wherever it's needed. Users would be wise to follow a scheme like >>> this, rather than using their dog's name or somesuch as their passwords. >>> >>> Paul >>> >>> -- >>> Paul M. Foster >>> http://noferblatz.com >>> >> >> What is "wrong?" That users should not be copy-pasting passwords or don't >> compromise the system? >> >> I agree that users should not use weak passwords, but not everyone goes everywhere with a >> vault. I am more then capable of memorizing 20 or so 16-32 character full set passwords. >> > > And so you assume everyone can do that? I can remember maybe 5 of the > passwords I regularly need. (I rarely repeat passwords for different > sites.) In addition, some passwords have been *assigned* to me and > cannot readily be changed (and are usually difficult to remember). Many > of the rest I so seldom use that it would be silly to try to remember > them. Particularly when I do have a password-locked file I can use to > record them for me. > > Under the circumstances I described, I have yet to hear in what way > copying and pasting passwords compromises security of anything by > itself. Please enlighten me. > > Paul I believe you misunderstood. I believe that trimming passwords to remove spaces is a compromise of the system, not the copy-paste. Regards, -Josh ____________________________________ Joshua Kehn | Josh.Kehn@gmail.com http://joshuakehn.com