PBKDF2 Key Derivation
PBKDF2 FAQ
What is PBKDF2?
PBKDF2 (Password-Based Key Derivation Function 2) derives secure keys from passwords using salts and iterations to resist brute-force attacks.
Why are iterations important?
More iterations slow down brute-force attempts, increasing security.
What is a salt?
Salt is random data added to the password before hashing, ensuring unique keys for identical passwords.
How long should my salt be?
At least 16 random bytes are recommended for strong security.
Is PBKDF2 still secure?
Yes, but newer alternatives like Argon2 and scrypt offer more resistance to GPU attacks.
Where is PBKDF2 used?
In Wi-Fi (WPA/WPA2), password managers, and file encryption tools.
What is PBKDF2?
PBKDF2 (Password-Based Key Derivation Function 2) is a standardized algorithm that uses salts and repeated hashing to derive cryptographic keys from passwords. It makes brute-force and dictionary attacks more computationally expensive.
This tool demonstrates PBKDF2 directly in your browser using the Web Crypto API. You can experiment with password strength, salts, iteration counts, and key lengths to understand how secure key derivation works.
While PBKDF2 is still secure when configured properly, modern algorithms like Argon2 and scrypt provide even better protection against GPU-accelerated attacks.