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RubyConf 2017: That time I used Ruby to crack my Reddit password by Haseeb Qureshi I lost my password. So I used Ruby to crack it, kinda. I will re-enact the story live in front of a group of strangers. I'm going to be honest, this is a weird and fairly embarrassing story. You probably shouldn't come see it. You know what, forget I even said anything.
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The video titled "That time I used Ruby to crack my Reddit password" features Haseeb Qureshi discussing a personal story related to his struggles with productivity and password management. At RubyConf 2017, Qureshi narrates a unique anecdote about a time he locked himself out of his Reddit account intentionally to avoid distracting websites, only to find himself in a conundrum two years later when he sought to regain access. Key points covered in the talk include: - **Introduction and Personal Struggle**: Qureshi opens with his past addiction to procrastination through internet browsing and a humorous reference to The Odyssey, providing context to his lack of self-control. - **Password Management Strategy**: To combat his time-wasting habits, he decided to change his Reddit password to a random, gibberish string and set his account recovery email to a throwaway account that he also discarded. This drastic measure forced him to focus on more productive activities. - **The Dilemma**: After two years, while working at Airbnb, he attempted to log back into Reddit only to discover he had forgotten the generated password. He realized that he had set the password email to be sent on a future date, making recovery impossible without some ingenuity. - **The Solution**: Qureshi devised a method to exploit the search functionality of the service he used (LetterMeLater) to gradually deduce his password character by character. He developed a systematic approach likened to a game of "Wheel of Fortune," leveraging substring queries to uncover the password without needing to access it directly. - **Technical Implementation**: Using Ruby, he wrote a script named "letter_me_now.rb" to automate the querying process, employing the Faraday gem to handle HTTP requests and extract information about his password incrementally. - **Outcome**: Ultimately, he successfully retrieved his password using this method, completing this amusing yet enlightening journey into programming and problem-solving. In conclusion, Qureshi's presentation not only entertains but serves to illustrate the potential of coding as a powerful tool for solving practical problems. He reinforces the importance of programming in everyday scenarios, emphasizing how it can lead to unexpected resolutions when faced with unique challenges. The story encapsulates a blend of humor and technical prowess, leaving the audience with an appreciation for the creative ways programming can intersect with daily life.
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