Company
Date Published
Author
Rishi Raman
Word count
2500
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

As digital security becomes increasingly crucial with the migration of sensitive data online, bcrypt emerges as a vital algorithm for securely hashing and salting passwords for safe storage. Unlike encryption, which is reversible, bcrypt's hashing process is a one-way conversion, making it more secure against certain attacks. Bcrypt employs the Blowfish cipher in an innovative way, using key stretching and salting to enhance password protection, making it resistant to brute force and pre-image attacks. Its ability to adjust the "cost" of hashing in response to advances in computing power ensures its continued efficacy over time. While newer algorithms like Argon2 and Scrypt exist, bcrypt remains a well-tested industry standard due to its robustness and flexibility. Despite its age, bcrypt's security features and adaptability make it a reliable choice for safeguarding user information.