*BSD News Article 61860


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From: dmphilli@yeager.cca.rockwell.com (Dean M. Phillips)
Subject: Re: DES and MD5 passsword encryption
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References: <Pine.LNX.3.91.960220183657.7144B-100000@gallup.cia-g.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 15:17:42 GMT
Lines: 17

In article <Pine.LNX.3.91.960220183657.7144B-100000@gallup.cia-g.com>,
Stephen Fisher  <lithium@cia-g.com> wrote:
>...
>I am aware that FreeBSD uses MD5 for encrypting passwords, and there is a 
>drop-in replacement to use DES encryption if you are in the U.S. [I am].  
>Is there any reason I would want to change to DES?  Are there pros/cons 
>to each?
>...

The only reason to change to DES is if you need to share password files
with non-FreeBSD systems (NIS, etc.).  The MD5 hash algorithm is probably
more secure than DES.
-- 
Dean M. Phillips                        Internet: dmphilli@cca.rockwell.com
Design Enginer,                           Comnet: 435-8810
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