IRO Journals
Journal of Trends in Computer Science and Smart Technology

Guardian-Based Anonymous Password Management with Privacy Preservation Using Threshold Cryptography

Open Access
Published: 24 April, 2026
Pages: 267-290
  • Harivignesh K.S. , Harivignesh K.S.
    Division of Computer Science Engineering, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India
    Division of Computer Science Engineering, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India
  • Venkatesan R. , Venkatesan R.
    Division of Computer Science Engineering, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India
    Division of Computer Science Engineering, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India
  • Selvarathi M. , Selvarathi M.
    Division of Mathematics, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India
    Division of Mathematics, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India
  • Jasmine David D. Jasmine David D.
    School of Computer Science and Engineering, Presidency University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
    School of Computer Science and Engineering, Presidency University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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How to Cite

K.S., Harivignesh, Venkatesan R., Selvarathi M., and Jasmine David D. 2026. “Guardian-Based Anonymous Password Management With Privacy Preservation Using Threshold Cryptography”. Journal of Trends in Computer Science and Smart Technology 8 (2): 267-90. https://doi.org/10.36548/jtcsst.2026.2.004.
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Keywords

Cryptography
Password Manager
Privacy
Secret Sharing
Post Quantum Cryptography
Security

Abstract

Most password managers are designed as a compromise between providing a secure way to handle difficult login credentials and creating a system that keeps user information private. Most password managers store users’ sensitive information in a central location, leaving users vulnerable to hacking attacks. The proposed work creates a better way to manage passwords and provide more protection to users based on their private information through a new concept called Guardian-Anonymous Password Management (GAPM). The idea is to create a unique architecture that stores passwords in decentralized locations using guardian anonymity, creating a hybrid architecture of secret sharing with post-quantum encrypted wraps. Accordingly, GAPM separates the act of recovering user passwords from a person, using a set of anonymous guardians who securely recover users’ passwords without putting any of them at risk of being hacked or located through social engineering techniques like phishing. This is achieved by using a Shamir-style secret sharing scheme combined with verifiably reassured commitments, where none of the guardians know each other, and they are required to reach a certain threshold of agreement to combine their shares into an easily accessible password recovery key. The GAPM system supports multiple guardian sets, allowing participants to be added or removed, and there is no need to reissue all the shares each time users make a change. The user can also change the recovery threshold in real-time. Finally, the shares are further secured through the use of a post-quantum Key Encapsulation Mechanism (KEM) to ensure that, no matter what kind of attack (classical or quantum), the password recovery process will remain strong and secure.

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