Problems with Random Numbers

Problem: "random" function rand() is showing patterns in my password-generating program (go to kinghajj.com to see the 1000-password list). To seed rand(), I use the current time. Every time a new password is made, re-seed rand() with the current time. However, there are some patterns:

The likelyhood of a password being repeated in that list is (aprox.) 0.04% (the same password was repeated 4 times): this doesn't bother much

The likelyhood of a 4-letter pattern (BHOU/bhou) being repeated in the list is (aprox.) 5.3%: this bothers me.

3-letter pattern (CIO/cio): aprox. 7.8%

Are patterns in the time (like the same numbers -- such as seconds) causing patterns in the passwords?

P.S.: I think that there should be 281,474,976,710,656 possiblities, with 8 characters per password and 64 possible characters.

>> Every time a new password is made, re-seed rand() with the current time.
Don't do that and see what you get.

gg

Yes, Codeplug has a point.

The algorithm for random number generation produce a series of pseudo random numbers, with each one being derived from the previous one, or more precisely from the previous internal state of the random number "engine".

The algorithm is designed to work effectively with these values, not from externally seeded values.

There have been cases (although I can't quote my sources) where random values used as seeds for more random values also show patterns developing, where intuitively you might expect it to be just as random.

BTW kinghajj, did you spot the spelling mistake in your signature?