1 What is crack?

crack is a Python module that exposes a simple interface to check the strength of passwords. This can be used from within Python programs as easily as calling a function and catching an exception.

crack can be very severe in performing checks. It uses the standard cracklib2 library to discover whether passwords are based on dictionary words or are too simple. Moreover additional checks such as minimum difference characters and rotation of old password have been written on the model of those found in PAM cracklib module.

It is possible for the user to tune the severity of checks by the use of some parameters.