The weak password problem: chaos, criticality, and encrypted p-CAPTCHAs

- Vulnerabilities related to weak passwords are a pressing global economic and security issue. We report a novel, simple, and effective approach to address the weak password problem. Building upon chaotic dynamics, criticality at phase transitions, CAPTCHA recognition, and computational round-off errors we design an algorithm that strengthens security of passwords. The core idea of our method is to split a long and secure password into two components. The first component is memorized by the user. The second component is transformed into a CAPTCHA image and then protected using evolution of a two-dimensional dynamical system close to a phase transition, in such a way that standard brute-force attacks become ineffective. We expect our approach to have wide applications for authentication and encryption technologies.

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2011
• Where: CORR
• Authors: T. V. Laptyeva, S. Flach, K. Kladko
• Keywords: CORR 2011, Education, Password, Phase Transition, Weak Password