Password Generator

Password Generator - program for building lists of random passwords.  Length and complexity is controlled by options and the final results are written to an ASCII file.

This is a free Keyliner download that is a stand-alone executable.  No installation or configuration is required.  This program does not require registration, nor are there ads or nagware. Free to use for personal and commercial use.  Tested on Windows 7 through 11. 

For a company's public wireless access, we needed a way to generate passwords with a one-week life-span, starting Monday morning through the next Sunday night.  This program generates several years worth of weekly passwords and writes the results to a tab-delimited file.

2022.01 Updates:
Recompiled using .dotNet 4.8
Added several hundred new word randomizations
Added ability to optionally use spaces as special character

When run, it writes a simple tab-delimited text file, editable with Notepad or excel.  Three columns: The password, a starting date and an expiration date.  If you only need passwords, ignore the dates.

Installation:

There is none.  Download and run.
No spying, no adware, no registration, no kidding.

This is a self-contained .exe that does not need installation, registry changes, or configuration files.  Place the .exe in any directory. Double-click to run.

Since keyliner cannot afford a signing certificate, you will be prompted that the file is not safe (being downloaded from the internet).  Click "more information" and allow the program to run.

Follow these steps for a more professional installation:

Using the .exe from a download folder, or copying to a (my Documents) folder is a quick workaround for various Windows 10 and 11 security concerns.  Some vendors recommend this, but these folders are inappropriate for executable software.  Instead, the program should be copied to Program Files so it gains the protection of other Windows security features. Total time: about a minute.

A.  Download the .exe to a Download or Temp folder:

From Keyliner's public GDrive, click this link and download to a local temp or download directory.  Do not download directly into ProgramFiles. 

Download link
Public GDrive Download Link:  PasswordGenerator.exe

Direct link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9DmF5P2DykTMnJZYjlPOC1KSFk/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-Yez2UKEykIB7q8Fse5uC2g

MD5:  63-b2-ac-f5-12-6c-b9-7f-5e-a0-be-ae-5c-ec-68-bf

When downloading, different browsers behave differently.
You will be prompted the file cannot be scanned.  Click "Download anyway"

Microsoft Edge:

Prompts "PasswordGenerator.exe" was blocked because it could harm your device. 

"Click See More" and allow the download.  With Edge, the file will appear in your Downloads directory with a random name, "Unconfirmed 780359.crdownloaded" (name varies). 

Rename the file to "PasswordGenerator.exe".

B.  Mark the program as safe-to-run:

(This step may not be needed if downloaded by Edge and you clicked "More / Download Anyway")

Using File Explorer, right-mouse-click the downloaded (and re-named) .exe
Select "Properties"
Check [x] Unblock.  This removes the "mark of the web." 

                 Click for larger view

* Only do this if you trust keyliner *and* only if downloaded from keyliner's public GDrive. 

If "Unblock" is not visible, it has already been unlocked (by Microsoft Edge).
Once [x] Unblocked is clicked, this security menu disappears.

C.  Create a Program folder to hold the program:

Using File Explorer, open folder C:\Program Files,
Create a folder  C:\Program Files\Util

D.  Separately, Copy the .exe to ProgramFiles\Util:

Using File Explorer,

Copy/paste the .exe from the temporary/download folder

to C:\Program Files\Util

Do this copy as a two-step, copying from the download folder into Program Files.  Windows security will not let you download directly into Program Files (technically, you will not be able to remove the "mark of the web" if downloaded directly into Program Files).

E.  Create a Start Menu icon:

Using File Explorer, in C:\Program Files\Util

Right-mouse-click the executable and "Pin to Start"

 

The program is ready to run.  See icon on Start Menu.

Use:

1.  Launch the program.

2.  Choose a password strength.

     Default = "High" 
     (12 character passphrase, Caps, digits, likely multi-word, depending on length)

     For documentation:
  Lowest  = 8 Char,  Capitals, No numbers
  Low     = 8 Char,  Capitals, Numbers
  Med     = 10 Char, Capitals, Numbers 
  High    = 12 Char, Capitals, Numbers, likely multi-word
  Higher  = 14 Char, Capitals, Numbers, multi-word
  Highest = 16 Char, Capitals, Numbers, multi-word

     Optionally select "Require special characters"
     Where a space is a common special character, or periods and other symbols.

3.  Set the Count for how many passwords to generate.
     100 is two years worth of weekly passwords.

4.  Type an output file path and filename or accept the default:
     "C:\Temp\VisitorPassword.csv"

5.  Pick a Start Date (any Date) or ignore if not important.
     Set a cycle date; which defaults to a 7-day password rotation.

6.  Click Generate.

7.  Click the Notepad icon to view the resulting file.  Example results:

     The generated list has passwords and dates.
     Naturally, you can ignore the dates, if not needed.


Randomization Notes:

The intent is to generate multiple, random passwords (passphrases), but over the course of several hundred runs, it may assemble the same phrase.  This is okay.  Theoretically, you are assigning the phrase to different users or across wide time-spans.

At Strength=Higher and above, the program generates multi-word phrases.  To help block dictionary attacks, the stronger passwords have one or more digits appended. 

Password lengths are guaranteed to be the minimum length indicated but can be longer, with variation in the generated lengths.  For example, a "High" password will be a minimum of 12 characters, but will randomly generate longer, 12 to (16) characters.  This makes passwords less predictable.


Drop me a note on how you used the program.  I welcome suggestions.

Humor:  Earlier versions of this program generated these passwords:  "FriskyHamster27", "KleptoChild6", and "CreepyFamily1".  Management called and the program was modified.  Now, all passwords are "happy"  with no personable nouns.  I am still fond of FriskyHamster.


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For an interesting discussion on passwords and for the reasons for this program's design, see this keyliner article:  Link:  "Better Safer and Stronger Passwords"

Download link
Public GDrive Download Link:  PasswordGenerator.exe

Related articles:
keyliner link:  Better Safer and Stronger Passwords
keyliner link:  Prize Select Raffle Ticket Program