What factors determine the strength of a password hash?

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The strength of a password hash is primarily influenced by the quality of the hashing algorithm used, the key length, and the length of the password itself.

The hashing algorithm's quality determines how resistant the hash is to attacks such as brute force or collision attacks. A strong algorithm will have properties that make it computationally difficult for attackers to reverse-engineer the hash back into the original password. Additionally, the length of the key is crucial; longer keys generally enhance security as they increase the number of possible combinations that must be tested in a brute-force attack. Finally, the length of the password plays a significant role, as longer passwords tend to be more complex and harder to guess or crack compared to shorter ones.

Other options like the length of the user name, the number of failed login attempts, and the time taken to change passwords do not directly impact the strength of the password hash itself. Instead, they relate to aspects of user account management or cybersecurity practices that do not influence how securely a password is hashed and stored.

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