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Hotmail No Longer Accepts Long Passwords, Shortens Them For You

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft doesn't like long passwords. In fact, the software giant not only won't let you use a really long one in Hotmail, but the company recently started prompting users to only enter the first 16 characters of their password. Let me rephrase that: if you have a password that has more than 16 characters, it will no longer work. Microsoft is making your life easier! You no longer have to input your whole password! Just put in the first 16 characters!" At least they warn you; I've run into some sites over the years that silently drop characters after an arbitrary limit.

5 of 497 comments (clear)

  1. 16 x 5 bits = 80 BIT !! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's enough for hotmail !!

    1. Re:16 x 5 bits = 80 BIT !! by RKBA · · Score: 3, Funny

      Where in the hell do you get 5 bits from?

      It's the old Baudot code young whippersnapper. Haven't you ever used TTYs or paper tape writer/readers?
      Get off my lawn!

    2. Re:16 x 5 bits = 80 BIT !! by Guignol · · Score: 3, Funny

      I could swear I have seen this somewhere else:
      "16 chars ought to be enough for anyone"

  2. Let's give this a shot by Ol+Biscuitbarrel · · Score: 3, Funny

    hunte

  3. Re:Hah! Take that, my bank! by maz2331 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'll bet that their db servers and Windows domain passwords are "sa" and "admin" as well.