Method and apparatus for strengthening passwords for protection of computer systems

摘要

A computer implemented method provides access to processes and data using strengthened password. During an initialization phase, an access code is stored in a memory of a computer system. The access code is an application of a one-way hash function to a concatenation of a password and a password supplement. The size of the password supplement is a fixed number of bits. During operation of the system, a user enters a password, and the one-way hash function is applied to concatenations of the password and possible values having the size of the password supplement to yield trial access codes. Access is granted when one of the trial access codes is identical to the stored access code.