Computer Security Literacy

CHAPTER 3

Passwords Under Attack

3.1      INTRODUCTION

Just as a lock and key are used to protect against unauthorized access to a home, passwords provide the same type of access control for computers and online accounts. Like the possession of a key, the secrecy of a password is often the only barrier that separates the private and confidential information found in bank, personal email, and online shopping accounts, to name a few, from those who seek to do harm. With so much valuable information protected by knowledge of a single password, it should come as no surprise that passwords are routinely attacked and from every conceivable angle. These attacks can be both creative and effective, targeting not only the passwords but also password ...