Secure Password Storage
Mastering Secure Password Storage
In the world of cybersecurity, securely storing passwords is one of the most critical practices we must adhere to. Think of password storage like fortifying a castle; you're not just keeping what's outside from getting in, you're ensuring that if someone somehow breaches the perimeter, there's nothing of value for them to pillage. Let's dive into the practices that will help protect your users' passwords.
Why Not Plain Text?
Storing passwords in plain text is a cardinal sin. If your database is compromised, it's game over — attackers have direct access to your users' passwords. Remember, passwords are a key aspect of users' identity and protection online. Treat them with the utmost respect.
Hashing: Your First Line of Defense
To secure passwords, always hash them before storing them. Hashing is a one-way transformation, meaning you can't easily reverse it to obtain the original password. For password hashing, use algorithms specifically designed for it, like bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2.
Choosing a Hashing Algorithm
- bcrypt: It's a good default choice. bcrypt includes a work factor that makes it slower to compute, a feature to deter brute-force attacks.
- scrypt: It is memory-hard, which makes it effective against attacks using customized hardware like FPGAs or ASICs.
- Argon2: Winner of the Password Hashing Competition (PHC), it is the most recent and considered one of the most secure.
Sample Code Using bcrypt
Here's a basic example in Python using bcrypt:
import bcrypt
# Password to be hashed
password = b"super_secret_password"
# Generate salt
salt = bcrypt.gensalt()
# Hash password
hashed_password = bcrypt.hashpw(password, salt)
print(hashed_password)
Salting: The Power Booster
Salting involves adding a unique, random string to each password before hashing it. This defends against rainbow table attacks because the same password will hash to different values when salted differently.
Peppering: An Additional Twist
Peppering is similar to salting, but involves adding a server-side secret to the password before hashing. It's particularly useful for further obfuscating user passwords.
Storing the Hash Safely
Once the password is hashed and salted, store both the hash and the unique salt. Only retain the hashed password and never the original password or the salt in plain text.
Proper Storage in a Database
When storing the hash and salt, ensure they're in separate fields. Here’s an example schema:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| user_id | Unique identifier for each user |
| username | Username of the account |
| salt | The unique salt used to hash the password |
| password | The hashed password |
Iterative Enhancement
Revisit your password storage strategy regularly. As computing power increases, the effectiveness of hashing functions decreases. Update your hashing strategies and work factors periodically.
Conclusion
Remember, secure password storage is not just about using a single method but combining techniques like hashing, salting, and sometimes peppering, along with keeping an eye on best practices and advancements in the field. This layered approach helps ensure that even if hashes are stolen, breaching your users' accounts remains exceedingly difficult.
A good takeaway is to always hash with care, salt with randomness, and pepper with confidentiality. Always follow security updates for libraries in use and stay informed about new practices!