Book 3, Question 100
Why Do Passwords Exist?
A password is a secret key made of letters, numbers, or a pattern. It proves that you are you, so a phone, game, or door will open only for the right person. The device stores a locked puzzle of your secret, not the secret itself.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 3
More fun facts
- A password is a secret set of letters, numbers and symbols that proves who you are.
- People forced to add a capital letter and a number often just change password into Password1, which is easy to guess.
- U.S. government guidelines say websites should store passwords in a scrambled form, not as plain text.
- Passkeys are a newer way to log in without remembering a password.
- With a passkey, your device makes a pair of secret keys: one stays on your device and the other is kept by the service you log into.
Questions kids ask
What is a passkey?
A newer way to log in. Your device makes a pair of secret keys, so you do not have to remember a password.