Authentication Security: Password Hashing, Entropy &…

What is Password Hashing?

Password hashing is a process where plain text passwords are converted into a fixed-size string of characters (the hash) using an algorithm. This hash serves as the stored representation of the password, which can be verified against when a user attempts to log in without storing the original password.

Hashing ensures that even if the database is compromised, attackers cannot directly use the stolen hashes to gain unauthorized access.

The Role of Entropy

Entropy measures the unpredictability or randomness associated with a piece of data. In the context of passwords, higher entropy means greater difficulty for an attacker to guess or brute-force the password.

Increasing the length and complexity (character set) of a password directly increases its entropy, making it more secure against attacks.

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Brute-Force Attacks

A brute-force attack involves systematically trying every possible combination until the correct password is found. The time required for such an attack depends on the length and complexity of the password.

Advanced hashing algorithms like bcrypt and Argon2id are designed to slow down this process by requiring more computational power, thus making brute-force attacks less feasible.

Impact of Hashing Algorithms

Different hashing algorithms have varying levels of security. MD5 is considered insecure due to vulnerabilities that allow for quick hash collisions and precomputed tables.

Algorithms like bcrypt and Argon2id are more secure because they are designed to be computationally intensive, making brute-force attacks impractical.

Frequently asked questions

Why is MD5 considered insecure?

MD5 is vulnerable to collision attacks where two different inputs can produce the same hash output. This makes it unsuitable for secure password storage.

How does MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) enhance security?

MFA adds an additional layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, such as a one-time code sent to the user's phone or biometric data. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access even if the password is compromised.

What is entropy in the context of passwords?

Entropy refers to the unpredictability and randomness of a password, which directly correlates with its security strength against brute-force attacks.

Why are bcrypt and Argon2id preferred over MD5 for hashing passwords?

Bcrypt and Argon2id are designed to be slow and resource-intensive, making them resistant to brute-force attacks. They also use salt values to further protect against precomputed hash tables.

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Everything above runs in your browser — open Authentication Security: Password Hashing, Entropy & Brute-Force Simulator and change the parameters while it is running. Nothing is installed, nothing is uploaded, the whole model lives in one tab.

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Authentication Security: Password Hashing, Entropy & Brute-Force Attack