Miscellaneous Hacks - Minimum Password Length

What is this?
This mod will allow you to force user passwords to be at least a certain length.


Features

• Force minimum length on:
  • Registration
  • Edit Password
  • Reset Password

I've only tested this mod on vB 4.1.4/4.1.5 (alpha). It should work with previous versions, however I am not sure. If it works for you on an older version, let me know.


Installation
1. Download the `product-password_minlength.xml` file. (* may differ in name based on version)
2. Enter your AdminCP and go to Plugins & Products > Manage Products > [Add/Import Product]
3. Import the product using the `product-password_minlength.xml` file. (* may differ in name based on version)
4. Configure the mod in AdminCP -> Settings -> Options -> User Registration Options


Upgrading
In many cases, all you'll need to do to upgrade is follow the installation instructions above, but set "Allow Overwrite" to "Yes".


Changelog
Version 1.0.2, 07/05/2011

• Changed the "Check Method" choice from a drop down to radio buttons (Boofo )
• Changed how the "UserId" "Check Method" works - it now is used for escluding User ID's
• Fixed a bug in the plugin for updating profile - was not checking if a new password had been entered.

Version 1.0.1, 06/07/2011

• Introduced three new options and one new plugin.
• The new options are based around a "Check Method". You can choose to enforce the min. password length by userid, usergroup, or 'none' (all).

Version 1.0.0, 05/31/2011

• Initial release.

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by BirdOPrey5

Well obviously it's your mod... I'm just saying I think putting a 10 or 14 character minimum on regular user account on most forums is like putting a bank vault door on an empty shed in a rural area... Yeah it's more protection, but for what?

You have to balance security vs. the user experience and most forums don't need this type of security on their standard accounts. Admins need to realize IMO most of their sites aren't all that important in the scheme of things. If it was a bank account or medical history then yeah, by all means, enforce strong passwords... but a forum to talk about cars or art or video games? I'd be more concerned about frustrating new and existing members with password requirements far surpassing any bank account I've ever used and having them stop coming.

I use KeePass myself but I'm not going to go through the effort of making a new entry for every single forum I'm a member of. LOL.

Anyway, my suggestion is an option to enforce for mods and admins only... all other opinions aside.

Not everyone feels their forums or members security are as unimportant as you feel they are.

[BirdOPrey5]

Originally Posted by Boofo

That makes absolutely no sense. Why even use it then?

Because regular users have "no powers." If someone hacked a regular user account worst thing they could do is post as them... So what if that happens?

Mod and Admin accounts however need to be protected for the security of the forum and the protection of member's private info.

[Eric]

Version 1.0.1, 06/07/2011

• Introduced three new options and one new plugin.
• The new options are based around a "Check Method". You can choose to enforce the min. password length by userid, usergroup, or 'none' (all).

[Boofo]

Thanks for the update. The only thing I would suggest is changing the "Minimum Password Length: Check Method" option to radioiped instead of selectiped. And I would have excluded userids instead of including them.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Boofo

Thanks for the update. The only thing I would suggest is changing the "Minimum Password Length: Check Method" option to radioiped instead of selectiped. And I would have excluded userids instead of including them.

Why change to the radioiped?

And for the userids, that is what I had initially and tbh, don't even remember why I thought it should be changed - would not take much to change it back.

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by Eric

Why change to the radioiped?

A coding preference, I guess, as well as it shows all options instead of having to scroll through a drop-down box.

Originally Posted by Eric

And for the userids, that is what I had initially and tbh, don't even remember why I thought it should be changed - would not take much to change it back.

I was wondering if maybe it was a simple mistake on your end.

[jgt58]

Originally Posted by Boofo

That makes absolutely no sense. Why even use it then?

Because to enforce staff having a more secure password than the normal users. Extra security is really not needed for normal users. If they are concerned about that , they will have a strong password. I WANT my staff to have a secure password , but there is no way to enforce that. This would be perfect with tweeks.

So yes , it does make sense :-)

[Boofo]

To you, maybe. I think my users are just as important as the staff and therefore should be given the same concern. Having their accounts hacked could be just as disastrous, if not more so, than any staff members.

[just.b.jealous]

You should require it for admins/moderators and not regular users, trust me- they dislike it. But then again, any secure-minded admin already has a long enough, difficult to guess password. HAd this installed but users couldn't actually register- they all kept getting a "password doesn't contain required amount of characters, please try again" error, or something to that effect. Ending up having to disable it for the time being.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by just.b.jealous

You should require it for admins/moderators and not regular users, trust me- they dislike it. But then again, any secure-minded admin already has a long enough, difficult to guess password. HAd this installed but users couldn't actually register- they all kept getting a "password doesn't contain required amount of characters, please try again" error, or something to that effect. Ending up having to disable it for the time being.

I've tested this mod several times across 4.1.3 and 4.1.4 - works fine. You sure they actually were meeting the requirement?