Previously, our password was 8 characters and included only lower-case letters. Now, because of changing requirements, we generate a random password with lower-case and upper-case letters, as well as numbers. How long of a password do we need in order to have the same security or better as before?

Question

Computers and Technology

Grease

20 February, 22:34

Previously, our password was 8 characters and included only lower-case letters. Now, because of changing requirements, we generate a random password with lower-case and upper-case letters, as well as numbers. How long of a password do we need in order to have the same security or better as before?

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Answers (1)

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Richard · Answer 1

7 characters.

Explanation:

Here we have 26 (small letters) + 26 (capital letters) + 10 (number from 0-9) = 62

As we are having more number of possibilities for each character of the password, We will need a smaller length to reach the same or better level of security.

If we take 6 characters long password we will have 626 = 56,800,235,584‬ possibilities, which is less secure than the previous 8 characters long password.

But if we take 7 characters long password we will have 627 = 3,521,614,606,208 possibilities, which is almost 17 times larger than the previous password and has a smaller length when compared to the previous password.