PROACTIVATION METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PASSWORD-HARDENING SYSTEMS

摘要

A password-hardening system comprises at least first and second servers. The first server is configured to store a plurality of sets of passwords for respective users with each such set comprising at least one valid password for the corresponding user and a plurality of chaff passwords for that user. The second server is configured to store at least a portion of valid password indication information indicating for each of the sets which of the passwords in that set is a valid password. The first and second servers are further configured to proactively update the sets of passwords and the valid password indication information in each of a plurality of epochs. The valid password indication information may comprise, for example, valid password index values for respective ones of the users, with the index values being stored as a shared secret across the first and second servers.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
storing in a first server a plurality of sets of passwords for respective users with each such set comprising at least one valid password for the corresponding user and a plurality of chaff passwords for that user; storing in a second server at least a portion of valid password indication information indicating for each of the sets which of the passwords in that set is a valid password; and proactively updating the sets of passwords and the valid password indication information in each of a plurality of epochs; wherein the storing in the first server, storing in the second server and the proactively updating are performed by at least one processing device.