SnabbSpelare Let's say its a 4 digit code. What you know for sure:

  • It starts with a 5.

  • There's a 4 in the code followed by a 5 (but you don't know exactly if the 4 is the second or third digit).

  • (are the assumptions above right?)

Knowing that gives you 30 possible codes to try out.

It would be very helpful if you could rule some digits out.
Can you say for sure what digits don't appear in your code?

SnabbSpelare

How can I unlock my phone if I know the three number patterns in one corner?

What do you mean? Please clarify.

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I don't use a password manager. This is an example why I do not prefer random passwords. Each of my passwords is created on a logic and pattern only known to me, but each of them is unique. And that is why I am unlikely to forget it.

Yes, don't waste your tries. Think on it, you will remember. And next time you create a password, try to base it on something familiar, personal, but not obvious.

    [deleted] I don't use a password manager. This is an example why I do not prefer random passwords. Each of my passwords is created on a logic and pattern only known to me, but each of them is unique. And that is why I am unlikely to forget it.

    That's a point of view. I use a password manager for the same reason : I just have to remember very few (quite) strong passwords built on a logic. The others are hidden by the password manager behind one of them.

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      Eirikr70 but you have to trust a third party, I don't. No problem for me.

        [deleted]

        but you have to trust a third party, I don't. No problem for me.

        You don't necessarily have to trust any third party with a password manager.

        There are offline password managers like KeePassDX.

        The trust depends solely on you and how you handle your own belongings. It's like trusting yourself with your own wallet. If you leave it somewhere it's you who is at fault and not the manufacturer of your wallet.

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        Eirikr70

        Each of my passwords is created on a logic and pattern only known to me, but each of them is unique.

        I just have to remember very few (quite) strong passwords built on a logic.

        While passwords "built on a logic" can be reasonably secure they obviously aren't as secure as a random generated password of the same length for example.

        Of course you have to adjust your password preference to your needs.
        Random passwords don't suit everyone's use case so some might benefit from a more convenient approach than a more secure one.

          UpStream While passwords "built on a logic" can be reasonably secure they obviously aren't as secure as a random generated password of the same length for example.

          Passwords "built on a logic" can be every bit as secure as a randomly generated one - it's all about entrophy.

          Not that it's the approach I would recommend.

            trilogy6202

            Passwords "built on a logic" can be every bit as secure as a randomly generated one - it's all about entrophy.

            That's not the case and it's not only about entropy.

            If you "build your passwords on logic" and some of them get compromised it's then possible to get "behind the logic" by studying the pattern in the old passwords and start guessing other possible passwords which isn't the case with randomly chosen ones since there's nothing to work with.

            Dependent on the algorithm used to generate those passwords it might be very easy to guess new ones even if it doesn't seem so at the first glance.

            So no it's not all about entropy.

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              UpStream if one of your passwords is long enough to take decades to brute force, what does it matter that the rest shares similarities especially if you modify your pattern every so often? You need to crack the first to get a chance at the rest.

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                Eirikr70 look, honestly, I am not bothered by it. What ticks me off is that some ppl can't remember 5 important digits (or 4 to be exact)

                trilogy6202 To be fair it is indeed only based on "entropy" but I think you're misunderstanding the term or thinking it's only about password length.

                Example:
                Choosing a logical pattern to create a 5 digit password from a character set of 30 will always have a lower entropy than a randomly chosen 5 digit password from the same character set.

                Why?

                Because password entropy is determined by the number of possibilities a password can be created from a specified character set.

                Now by applying a logical pattern you're reducing the number of possible passwords created (and therefore the entropy) using a specified character set since not all 5 digit passwords follow your logic and have to be discarded from the possible pool of passwords.

                Practical example:
                Password conditions (my created logic):

                • 5 digits

                • ends with even number

                • starts with a letter

                • lowercase Latin alphabet

                This gives us 363 * 26 * 5 possible passwords.

                Possibilities for passwords chosen at random are:
                365 (which is a larger number).

                As you can see choosing a random password from the same character gives you always a higher entropy.

                Password entropy doesn't mean password length!

                The following passwords chosen randomly: "password" and "bgpxoqky" have the same entropy if chosen from the same set of possible passwords.

                [deleted] The only thing I said is that they aren't as secure if chosen from the same set of possibilities.

                architekt maybe stay on topic of the thread and not hijack it with your personal beliefs on password security?

                What a pity ! But let's respect a minimum disciplin.

                Buy yubikey key. At leat a pair. Programm both for same static password. It can be 36 lengh long. I thinkk thats better idea. So u no need to remember it. Just unlock your phone via yubikey