Generate secure password hashes using bcrypt algorithm
Features
- Secure Hashing: Uses bcrypt algorithm with adaptive cost factors: Uses bcrypt algorithm with adaptive cost factors for secure password hashing
- Dual Mode: Support for both password hashing and verification: Support for both password hashing and verification modes
- Configurable Rounds: Adjustable cost factor from 4 to 31: Adjustable cost factor from 4 to 31 rounds
- Salt Generation: Automatic salt generation for each hash: Automatic salt generation for each hash operation
Usage Guide
- Enter Password: Enter the password you want to hash or verify
- Configure Settings: Select the operation mode and adjust rounds
- Generate or Verify: Generate hash or verify password and copy result
Technical Details
What is Bcrypt Password Hashing
Bcrypt is a password hashing function designed by Niels Provos and David Mazières, based on the Blowfish cipher algorithm. It's specifically designed for password storage and provides adaptive security through configurable work factors. Bcrypt incorporates automatic salt generation to prevent rainbow table attacks and uses a computationally expensive process that makes brute force attacks impractical. It's widely considered the gold standard for password hashing in modern applications.
Adaptive Cost Factor and Security
Bcrypt's adaptive cost factor allows developers to adjust computational complexity based on hardware capabilities and security requirements. The work factor (rounds) can be increased over time as hardware becomes faster, maintaining security against brute force attacks. Typical values range from 10-12 rounds for production environments, with higher values (14-16) for high-security applications.
Salt Generation and Hash Process
Bcrypt automatically generates a unique random salt for each password, preventing rainbow table attacks and ensuring that identical passwords produce different hashes. The process combines the password with the salt, then applies multiple rounds of the Blowfish encryption algorithm. The resulting hash includes the salt and cost factor, making it self-contained and verifiable. This design ensures that even if the hash database is compromised, individual passwords remain protected.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Bcrypt and why should I use it?
- Bcrypt is a password hashing function specifically designed for secure password storage. Unlike general hash functions like MD5 or SHA-1, bcrypt is intentionally slow and computationally expensive, making brute force attacks impractical. It automatically generates a random salt for each password and allows you to increase the cost factor over time to maintain security as hardware improves.
- What does the number of rounds mean?
- The rounds (or cost factor) determines how many iterations the hashing process runs. Each increment doubles the computation time. 10 rounds takes ~100ms, while 12 rounds takes ~400ms. For production environments, 10-12 rounds is recommended, while high-security systems might use 14-16 rounds. Avoid using less than 8 rounds.
- Why does the same password generate different hashes each time?
- Bcrypt automatically generates a random salt for each hash. This is a core security feature - even identical passwords will produce different hashes due to different salts. This prevents rainbow table attacks and ensures attackers cannot use precomputed lists of hashes. The salt is included in the hash itself, so it can be extracted during verification.
- Can bcrypt hashes be reversed?
- No, bcrypt is a one-way hash function. There is no mathematical way to recover the original password from the hash. This is what makes it secure for password storage. To verify a password, you hash the same password again (using the stored salt) and compare the result to the stored hash. If the hashes match, the password is correct.
- Is bcrypt safe to use in production?
- Yes, bcrypt is an industry standard for production use. It's used by all major programming languages including Node.js (bcrypt.js), Python (bcrypt), PHP (password_hash), and Java (jBCrypt). It's recommended by OWASP, NIST, and security experts for password storage. Just ensure you use an appropriate number of rounds (10-12), store hashes securely, and transmit passwords over HTTPS.
Related Documentation
- Wikipedia - Bcrypt Password Hashing Algorithm - Comprehensive overview of the bcrypt password hashing function and its design principles
- OWASP Password Storage Cheat Sheet - Industry best practices and guidelines for secure password storage and hashing
- jBCrypt - Java Implementation of Bcrypt - Open-source Java library implementing the bcrypt password hashing algorithm
- Blowfish Cipher Specification - Technical specification of the Blowfish encryption algorithm that bcrypt is based on
- NIST Password Guidelines SP 800-63B - Official NIST digital identity guidelines including password hashing recommendations