Some important things
---------------------

 - hardcrack is GNU. 

 - libdes is included in this version. It does not belong to hardcrack.
   hardcrack does only use it. I am not responsible for anything in the
   deslib-directory.
   It is used as standard because the libdes-fcrypt routine is twice as
   fast than the original crypt routine.

 - hardcrack was developed under Linux. I do not know if it works with
   other Unices.

 - I wrote this program, but you use it. It's your moral that keeps you
   away from doing anything bad or good with this stuff. I am anyway not
   responsible for anything that is done with hardcrack.

 - I would like to hear response if you use this program. 
   How fast is it on your machine(s)?
   How long did it take to succeed?
   Has anyone ever succeeded to get only one single password with this
   stupid thing?

 - I myself see this program as an effort to bring people to use passwords
   with at least not less than seven letters, because any guy can hack it
   with a stupid program like this. And remember: If such a miserable programmer
   like me can do this, anyone should be able to create such a program.

Some speed results: (On a Pentium 100/Linux2.0.x System)

   3 letter passwords: about 1 minute
   4 Letter passwords: about 1 hour
   5 letter passwords: - 3 days
   6 letter passwords: - 190 days
   7 letter passwords: ca 30 years
   8 letter passwords: 750-2000 years (I do not remember exactly)


Stefan Reinauer, <stepan@home.culture.mipt.ru>
