Running

Table of Contents Running Files Choice of input files Options

Running

Files

Graphical versions of EasyPassword scan a directory named "dict" on startup. The program will tell you exactly where this directory is when you start it up, as well as listing any files it has found with checkboxes. You can click "Scan" to rescan the dict folder, use the checkboxes to select which books will be chosen from. Add plain text files to this directory to increase the number of words that EasyPassword will choose from. Within the app there are buttons to download the King James version of the bible and War and Peace from Project Gutenberg to help you get started.

Choice of input files

• I find it helpful to use several books that I've read that are available from Project Gutenberg (all the more reason to read the classics!).
• It may be an ever better idea to use four random names, see http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=73384&p=2740553#p2740553
• Also see http://www.baekdal.com/tips/password-security-usability for a longer discussion on word-based security, and the January 2011 update http://www.baekdal.com/tips/the-usability-of-passwords-faq

Options

There the following options:

• Lowercase all words - lowercase words before adding to the dictionary. This will slightly lower the strength of your password.
• Space between words - add spaces between words. This makes it easier to see the word boundaries.
• Number of words in password. The more words the string the password.

Click the "Make new password" button will generate new passwords and calculate stats which describe the strength of the password. Alphanum string means a random string of mixed-case letters and numbers. Random string is a string draw from letters, numbers, and the symbols "!@#$%^&*()//~`-=+_.