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From Basics to Expert: A Deep Dive into Argon2 Password Hashing
Introduction
Password security is a cornerstone of modern application development, and choosing the right hashing algorithm is critical. Among the many options available, Argon2 stands out as the modern, secure, and highly tunable password hashing algorithm, even earning the top spot in the 2015 Password Hashing Competition.
This article will guide you through Argon2 — its features, best practices, use cases, alternatives, and practical implementation — taking you from basics to expert-level understanding.
What is Argon2?
Argon2 is a key derivation function designed specifically for password hashing. It improves upon older algorithms like bcrypt and PBKDF2 by addressing modern threats, such as GPU-based brute-force attacks. Argon2 achieves this by leveraging both memory-hardness and customizable parameters for time and memory usage.
Types of Argon2
- Argon2d: Optimized for defense against GPU-based attacks and is more suitable for applications requiring high resistance to side-channel attacks.
- Argon2i: Prioritizes resistance to side-channel attacks, making it ideal for password hashing.
- Argon2id: A hybrid combining the benefits of…
