Iterated password hash systems and methods for preserving password entropy

Methods and systems consistent with the invention provide a hash process for use in password authentication. For instance, in one embodiment, a method may include receiving password data and combining the password data with a salt value. The salt value may, for example, be a random number. The method may also include calculating a first hash value based on the combined password data and salt value. The method may further include calculating, in a second iteration, a second hash value based on the first hash value and the password. In exemplary implementations, the method may also iteratively calculate a new hash value by applying the output hash value of a previous iteration, in combination with the password data, to the hash function. The number of iterations may be determined by an iteration count.