Script: list-passwords.ps1

This PowerShell script writes a list of secure passwords to the console (for the user to select one). NOTE: The new NIST and CISA recommendation of 2024 for very strong passwords is at least 16 characters.

Parameters

PS> ./list-passwords.ps1 [[-passwordLength] <Int32>] [[-columns] <Int32>] [[-rows] <Int32>] [<CommonParameters>]

-passwordLength <Int32>
    Specifies the length of the password (16 by default)
    
    Required?                    false
    Position?                    1
    Default value                16
    Accept pipeline input?       false
    Aliases                      
    Accept wildcard characters?  false

-columns <Int32>
    Specifies the number of columns (6 by default)
    
    Required?                    false
    Position?                    2
    Default value                6
    Accept pipeline input?       false
    Aliases                      
    Accept wildcard characters?  false

-rows <Int32>
    Specifies the number of rows (27 by default)
    
    Required?                    false
    Position?                    3
    Default value                27
    Accept pipeline input?       false
    Aliases                      
    Accept wildcard characters?  false

[<CommonParameters>]
    This script supports the common parameters: Verbose, Debug, ErrorAction, ErrorVariable, WarningAction, 
    WarningVariable, OutBuffer, PipelineVariable, and OutVariable.

Example

PS> ./list-passwords.ps1
P6zYR't)/TrfEMJa    %.]wrp@&w;`Z`Fv$    =q<p_D{J@_WdhLS3    /NMj/R+]su`8D:Fg    [nIR1X"_14W3:Z;K
9n*w$"#ULlZyyuC:    Z5Otl4mOy]hQ[8zK    .QxJQBHdLtd,Pwnp    :`/M508&!X{D7Ox5    o/kHzwg8khHvMb|#
zO:B,FsAwt`Jf?V<    ZyU>8},Bvn/)Moqg    ;Kz|I[tG$t"3kj6x    <.<JM0czDuI<8jq)    #v/;BXq|%.;A|vU,
...

Notes

Author: Markus Fleschutz | License: CC0

Related Links

https://github.com/fleschutz/PowerShell

Script Content

<#
.SYNOPSIS
	List secure passwords
.DESCRIPTION
	This PowerShell script writes a list of secure passwords to the console (for the user to select one).
	NOTE: The new NIST and CISA recommendation of 2024 for very strong passwords is at least 16 characters.
.PARAMETER passwordLength
	Specifies the length of the password (16 by default)
.PARAMETER columns
	Specifies the number of columns (6 by default)
.PARAMETER rows
	Specifies the number of rows (27 by default)
.EXAMPLE
	PS> ./list-passwords.ps1
	P6zYR't)/TrfEMJa    %.]wrp@&w;`Z`Fv$    =q<p_D{J@_WdhLS3    /NMj/R+]su`8D:Fg    [nIR1X"_14W3:Z;K
	9n*w$"#ULlZyyuC:    Z5Otl4mOy]hQ[8zK    .QxJQBHdLtd,Pwnp    :`/M508&!X{D7Ox5    o/kHzwg8khHvMb|#
	zO:B,FsAwt`Jf?V<    ZyU>8},Bvn/)Moqg    ;Kz|I[tG$t"3kj6x    <.<JM0czDuI<8jq)    #v/;BXq|%.;A|vU,
	...
.LINK
	https://github.com/fleschutz/PowerShell
.NOTES
	Author: Markus Fleschutz | License: CC0
#>

param([int]$passwordLength = 16, [int]$columns = 6, [int]$rows = 27)

try {
	[int]$minCharCode = 33
	[int]$maxCharCode = 126
	$generator = New-Object System.Random
	for ([int]$row = 0; $row -lt $rows; $row++) {
		$line = ""
		for ([int]$col = 0; $col -lt $columns; $col++) {
			for ([int]$i = 0; $i -lt $passwordLength; $i++) {
				$line += [char]$generator.next($minCharCode, $maxCharCode)
			}
			$line += "    "
		}
		Write-Output $line
	}
	exit 0 # success
} catch {
	"⚠️ ERROR: $($Error[0]) (script line $($_.InvocationInfo.ScriptLineNumber))"
	exit 1
}

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