Password Strength Checker

Overview

This project is a Python-based password strength checker designed to help users create secure passwords that adhere to cybersecurity best practices. The program evaluates passwords against a set of criteria recommended by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to ensure they are strong and resilient to attacks.

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Features

• Common Password Check: Verifies the password against a list of 10,000,000 common passwords to avoid easily guessable passwords.
• Strength Validation:
  • Ensures a minimum length of 16 characters.
  • Requires at least one uppercase letter.
  • Requires at least one digit.
  • Requires at least one special character, including `!@#$%^&*()_+-=[]{}|;:'",.<>?/~``.
• Detailed Feedback: Provides clear messages to guide users in creating stronger passwords.
• Error Handling: Detects missing or inaccessible password files and alerts the user.

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How It Works

1. The program reads a text file containing common passwords and stores them in a set for fast lookups.
2. It evaluates the user's password against:
   • Common passwords.
   • Length and complexity requirements (uppercase letters, digits, special characters).
3. Provides feedback indicating whether the password is strong or suggests improvements.

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Usage

Requirements

• Python 3.12.8 installed on your system.

Steps to Run

1. Clone the repository
2. Navigate to the project directory
3. Run the program
4. Enter a password when prompted, and the program will provide feedback

Key Technologies

• Python
• Regular Expressions (Regex)
• File I/O
• Data Structures (Set)