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PASSGEN.TXT
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1996-11-01
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Random Password Generator V6.0
By:
Timothy L. Hirtle
11/1/96
All Rights Reserved
Description:
============
Simply the most secure method for creating passwords. Voted by Windows Magazine
as "Superior Shareware" (Aug 1995). Random Password Generator as the name implies
will randomly select from a group of numbers, lowercase letters, uppercase letters
and special characters or any combination and select passwords. The user has the
ability to identify up to 1,000,000 (yes, that's 1,000,000) different passwords,
using as many as 25 characters each. This application may be set to randomly select
passwords which have not been previously selected (if desired) and sort them in order.
The user can copy selected passwords or save them all as text files. The generator
uses numbers, upper and lowercase letters, and special keyboard characters. You can
select any combination of these choices to generate passwords. A total of 94
characters are available for the randomizer to select from. You have the ability to
identify exactly which characters to activate for the random selection process.
Operators can also apply rules which will not select the same character (i.e. HH, etc..)
back to back and will not select sequential characters (i.e. 123, etc..) back to back.
Operators can now create multiple files from one simple set-up mode. This software has
been specifically chosen by fine institutions such as Harvard Business School Publishing
in Cambridge, Massachusetts and by the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Requirements:
=============
- Windows 3.x or Windows 95
- VBRUN300.DLL installed in your Windows System directory. This file is required
for thousands of software products. You should be able to find it at almost any
site which offers Windows software for downloading. The file is usually called:
VBRUN301.EXE. When decompressed it will be listed as VBRUN301.EXE
Installation:
=============
- Run Install.exe using the RUN option from the file menu of Windows Program Manager
or double click on the Install.exe icon from the File Manager.
- Follow the directions of the install program.
Installation should have placed the following files in the identified directories:
- In your install directory which you specified
PassGen.exe
PassGen.txt
commdlg.dll (This file may not be necessay if one with the same name already
resides in your system directory)
cmdialog.vbx (This file may not be necessay if one with the same name already
resides in your system directory)
Distribution:
=============
- Random Password Generator is distributed as Shareware. The Author maintains all
rights to the program in its entirety.
- Random Password Generator may be distributed freely as long as the integrity of
Shareware is maintained.
- The author grants a 30 day trial period for users to decide whether they want to keep
the program. If so, a $15 payment is required (plus shipping and handlind, see order
form in Help menu). If not, then before the 30 days is up, you must delete this program
from your system(s). Payment must be in the form of check, cash or money order made out
in U.S. currency only. Currently I do not accept credit card purchases.
- This version is half price ($7.50 + Shipping & Handling) to all previously registered
customers. One per previous registration at this price. Those who are upgrading must
provide the author with the exact same user name as what the original registration was
registered to.
Compuserve Customers:
Save a stamp! You can register this program on-line if desired.
The cost of this program will be added to your Compuserve account.
Here's how:
1. Use the GO SWREG command
2. Select 'Register Shareware' option
3. Select the geographic region you reside in
4. This is a search area. select the appropriate fields which will help identify
this application. once done choose 'Begin Search' then 'Display Selection'. This
application is REG # 13527.
5. The number of matching titles found will be displayed. Select the appropriate
title and the the 'Select' button
6. Select the 'Description' button
7. Select the 'Register' button
8. Fill out the appropriate information and your done
That's it! You have now registered this software. Your next Compuserve
bill will show that you have registered this software. The author will
send you a registered copy of this application or send you a
registration number immediately to enter into the program which will
activate the registered features.
NOTE: SWREG does not allow for different pricing policies. Therefore previous registered
customers wishing to register the newer version at half price should use postal mail to
the author with an order form. Otherwise SWREG will charge you full price.
Disclaimer:
===========
Random Password Generator has no expressed or implied warranty. The user accepts full
responsibility for this program by loading it on their computer. At no time is the
author responsible for any hardware or software malfunctions caused by this program.
Though the author knows of no such problems from this software, he is not liable if
any should occur.
NOTE:
=====
A shareware limitation is placed on this software. Users will only be allowed to
request a maximum of 25 passwords in a single execution. Registered customers will be
granted full access, up to 1,000,000 passwords in a single execution. See order form
for registration details.
Version Information:
====================
V1.0
====
Initial release.
V1.1
====
- Added the ability to sort or unsort results.
- Made the Help menu uneditable. Previously the help menu could be
edited, though it the changes would not be saved. Now help is read-only.
V2.0
====
- Added uppercase letters to the program. Now when letters are requested, both upper
and lowercase letters are used in the equation. For instance the letter "r" and the
letter "R" are both treated as different choices in the calculator. Most password
programs should treat upper and lowercase letters individually. this will
increase the security of passwords with more choices on which an individual must
consider when attempting to crack them.
- Added the ability to use special symbols into the calculator. Now you may
have the calculator randomly select special characters such as !@#$%^&*()-_=+;:'<>?
this will also increase the security of passwords with more choices on which an
individual must consider when attempting to crack them. When Symbols are desired
they have approximately a 30% probability of being selected.
- Removed much of the error checking code between the total passwords and the
total characters operator inputs. Because of the uppercase and symbol additions,
the error checking is too intensive to include into the application. These two
inputs should be intuitive without intense error checking.
- As many as 2000 passwords can now be selected when including symbols along with
the combination of letters and numbers.
v2.1
====
- Seperated the letter choice into 2 seperate categories; lowercase and uppercase
letters. This adds more flexibility to users who have specific preferences.
- Fixed a minor problem that would cause an error when users pressed the backspace
key in either the number of passwords or number of characters box.
- Modified the randomizer to provide equal weight to each character. Previous
versions did not provide this. For example if the user requested numbers and
letters, previous versions would use a 50/50 probability between numbers and
letters. This was not the best method since there are 26 letters and only 10
numbers. Each number theoretically had a higher probability of being selected.
This version provides equal weight to all characters.
- Added a pop-up message to identify when the application is computing. Sometimes
when large passwords are requested, especially on slower computer systems, the
application may take a few moments to finish it's computations.
V2.2
====
- Administrative release to update registration information.
V3.0
====
- Added 'Characters to Use' window to show the total number of characters the
user has specified to be used in the random calculator.
- Added the ability to eliminate certain characters which appear similar to one another.
Small case L, J, I, along with upper case letter O, and numbers 0, 1 will not be selected
by Random Password Generator if desired by the user. These characters can be confused with
others. To eliminate this confusion the operator can choose not to have them selected.
- Modified registration information and windows.
- Placed shareware limitations into application.
- Prevented more than one instance of application to run.
- Added quick help to many options within the application. Now you can select
any option choice to see a quick help window stating the purpose and limitations of the
selected option.
- Added a notification when attempting to write to a file which already exists. The application
will now ask if the file should be rewritten. Also removed the read-only option in the save window.
- Modified the 'Copy' option to be enabled only if a password is selected. Now only either the
sorted or the unsorted windows can show a selected password. Previous versions would allow both
windows to display selected passwords, even when only one was active. Also eliminated the ability
to make multiple selections in either window since only the most recent selection could be copied
to the clipboard. This elimates some confusion.
V4.0
====
- Added the ability to request up to 32,000 passwords in a single pass. Previous versions
could only do a maximum of 2000. Removed the 'Computing...Please Wait' notification.
- Added 12 additional special characters to bring the maximum number of characters
to 94 vice 82 in previous versions. RPG now uses the exact character set that
Microsoft Windows utilizes. Now with 94 total characters to select from, it would
be even more difficult to crack these passwords.
- Added the ability for users to choose whether to check for duplications or allow
duplications.
- Added a 'Passwords Generated' read-out display so users can see the exact number of
passwords which is currently being selected. This feature is very handy for high numbers
of password requests. It gives users an idea of how long it will take to complete.
- Added 'Save Sorted' and 'Save Unsorted' options in the 'File' menu. Now, besides the
buttons, users can use the pull down menu for these features.
- Added 'Display Character Set' option in the 'Help' menu. This option will display
the entire 94 characters available to RPG.
- Added a routine which will check for unreasonable requests. For instance Total Characters
is 3 while using only Numbers, and Total Passwords = 2000. If You request that no
duplications is required, then it would be unreasonable. The max passwords that could be
generated in this scenerio is 1000. Therefore, you will now be alerted prior to any
passwords being selected.
- Changed the maximum total characters which can be generated for each password to 25 vice 30
in previous versions. 25 is more friendly to work with than is 30, plus 30 is very high and
probably is not necessary for most (if not all) users.
- Streamlined the randomizer algorithm which now essentially doubles the speed of which
passwords are generated.
- Modified the 'Characters to Use' read-out display to show exactly how many characters will
will used in password generation. V3.0 did not account for characters which were eliminated
do to similar appearance with others.
- Added CTRL_C shortcut key option to copy passwords.
- Changed some code that will allow you to operate other applications while passwords are
being generated. Previous versions would tie-up the entire computer when creating passwords.
Now, you can operate other apps. Allowing 32,000 passwords can take some time, previous
versions could only perform 2,000, so locking the computer is a greater issue.
- Added a 'Stop' button so that password generations can be stopped at anytime. Password
generation can take a long time if a high quantity is requested. This stop feature is handy
in situations where you don't want to wait for it to complete.
- Added a probability readout display which indicates the 'liklihood' that someone could crack
a single password simply by guessing. The readout display dynamically updates depending upon
many factors such as the amount of characters per password and amount of total character to
choose from.
V5.0
====
- Added the ability to create up to 1,000,000 passwords at a time. The previous version
could only create a max of 32,000. All password requests over 32,000 will be saved directly
to a text file (unsorted).
- Added the ability to save and open settings. This is handy when you have consistent
password settings which you use often. Instead up setting it up each time, you can now save
your usual settings and load them back in.
- Added password details to every saved file. Now at the beginning of each file the settings
used to create the passwords will be printed.
- Added counter to icon. When an application is minimized while executing, it will display
the generated password count on the icon.
- Added a status window to inform users of significant events.
V6.0
====
- Added the ability to select or deselect any of the 94 available characters for inclusion
orexclusion to the randomizer. Now you can decide exactly which characters you want to use
or not. Previous versions only allowed you to decide by whole categories such as numbers,
lowercase and uppercase letters, and special characters.
- Added the ability to add hyphens to passwords. Now you can place hyphens anywhere within
passwords. For instance if you want a hypen after the 4th character of each password, one
simple click will do this for you. Many users use this application for such things as
registration generators where hyphens are commonly used.
- Added a Side-By-Side Check option that if selected will check for any 2 exact same
characters which appear next to one another. If it detects 2 exact characters next to each
other it will automatically reselect a different character on the second occurrance.
- Added a Sequential Check option that if selected will check for any 2 characters which
are sequential in nature (i.e. 12, ab, AB, etc..) that appear next to each other. If it
detects 2 sequntial characters next to one another it will automatically reselect a
different character on the second occurrance.
- Added a Multi-File Create option in the File Menu. This feature if selected can allow you
to create as many as 9999 files at one time, each randomly selected and different from the
other. This one simple set-up saves time for those needing many different files. Once set-up
the randomizer will continue from one file to the next automatically without further operator
involvement.
- Eliminated the Eliminate Similar Characters option. This feature is now the Default button
on the Character Selection Window. You may decide exactly which characters in which to use
or eliminate.
- Added an Options menu that places all the options available to the operator in one simple
location.
- Changed the Help information to be sensitive to the specific area of interest. For
instance if you want to know what the Duplication Check is, just click on the Duplication
Check button. The information provided will be specific to explaining Duplication Check.
And so on for other features.
- Removed the minute counter from the shareware version. However, the application is still
limited to a maximun of 25 passwords per execution for non registered users.
-
Send payment, questions and comments to:
Timothy L. Hirtle
P.O. Box 1332
Virginia Beach, VA 23451-0332
Internet:
102705.2261@compuserve.com
Hirtle Software is now on the WWW. The latest versions can be found here including
other fine software products. You can get the latest information, preview software
on-line, and download the latest versions all at one location:
WWW Address:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/hirtle/