Retrieving password when the password stored as a hash value

Matt picture Matt · Jun 18, 2009 · Viewed 21.5k times · Source

Can users request that their password be emailed to themselves if the password is stored as a hash value?

Is there any way to convert a hash value to the clear text value with the proper information (& what information would you need)?

If a user has the same password hash value stored on two sites, would their password be the same for both sites?

Answer

Yoopergeek picture Yoopergeek · Jun 18, 2009

If you're only storing a hash of the password, then no. ...and you should only be storing a properly-salted hash of their password, anyway.

Password reset mechanisms are the proper alternative.