hash(website name + global password + increment) = password to use?
or something like it
hash(website name + global password + increment) = password to use?
or something like it
Here's a quick analysis of pros and cons of password generators compared to password managers: http://crypto.stackexchange.com/a/5691/291
I used a password generator (my own) for a few years, and I'm happy to use a password manager now, which is safer and makes me avoid keeping certain information in my mind (e.g. if I already have an account on this website and what's my username for it).
The major downside is that site saying "your password must [not] contain blah-blah-blah"/"be N to M characters long"/"may contain only digits" when the generated one just happens to not conform to such restriction. In my personal experience, one out of dozen sites tries to be smartass about the passwords, so the scheme is a PITA in the long run.
Without the increment you also can't rotate password, while with the increment you need to store the increment value (and if you do keep the notes and the master secret, why not just remember the password already?)
The password managers are more flexible than password generators, because they don't have such limitations.
I have used this personally since I wrote it. Given the downsides, I agree that password managers are probably better for most people.