Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!munnari.oz.au!uniwa!vax6!crobw From: crobw@acad.cut.oz Newsgroups: comp.misc Subject: Re: Password algorithm Message-ID: <2021.25e2c48a@acad.cut.oz> Date: 21 Feb 90 08:40:41 GMT References: <1019@philmtl.philips.ca> <1231@nixpbe.UUCP> Organization: Curtin University of Technology Lines: 22 In article <1231@nixpbe.UUCP>, mollers.pad@nixpbe.uucp (Moellers) writes: >[...] > There used to be an algorithm on the PDP-11 which packed 3 characters in > 2 bytes. The characterset was restricted to UC and digits -> 36 > different chars, > max. value (35*36+35)*36+35 == 46655 > The method was called RADIX50, from 50 (base 8), or 40 (base 10), so that another 4 special characters can be included. Specifically 6 characters from the set of 40 can fit into 32 bits thus:- ((((C6*40+C5)*40+C4)*40+C3)*40+C2)*40+C1, where 0.le.Cj.le.39 (base 10) 40^6 = 4096*10^6 = F4240000 (hex) _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Rob Wright | psi%050529452300030::CROBW Curtin University | CROBW%acad.curtin.edu.au@uunet.uu.net Perth, Western Australia | CROBW%acad.curtin.edu.au%munnari.oz@cunyvm.bitnet Voice:+61 9 351 7385 | munnari!acad.curtin.edu.au!CROBW@uk.ac.ukc FAX: 09-351-2673 | {backbones}!munnari!acad.curtin.edu.au!CROBW -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_