Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!brl-adm!brl-smoke!gwyn
From: gwyn@brl-smoke.ARPA (Doug Gwyn )
Newsgroups: sci.crypt
Subject: Re: Unix Password Cracker/Hacker
Message-ID: <7329@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Date: 23 Feb 88 22:30:15 GMT
References: <772@ddsw1.UUCP>
Reply-To: gwyn@brl.arpa (Doug Gwyn (VLD/VMB) <gwyn>)
Distribution: na
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab (BRL), APG, MD.
Lines: 10

In article <772@ddsw1.UUCP> dnelson@ddsw1.UUCP (Douglas Nelson) writes:
>Also, I know it is available on most other operating systems, so perhaps it
>is also available on Unix-type systems, a 'password expiration date' so to
>say.  This will force users to change thier passwords occasionally.

This is a standard feature on UNIX System V (it is enabled on a per-account
basis).  But it's not really a good idea under normal circumstances -- if
a person has chosen a good, secure password, it is folly to force them to
change it.  Eventually they will quit being careful and just pick a lousy
password, affording an intruder an improved entry opportunity.