secret character string that is required before one can log onto a computer system, thus preventing unauthorized persons from obtaining access to the computer. The primary reason for using a password is to protect confidential information from modification, destruction, misuse, and other security-related dangers by unauthorized persons.

a secret sequence of typed characters that is required to use a computer system, thus preventing unauthorized persons from gaining access to the computer.

If you are using a password to protect your computer:

• Protect your password. Keep it a secret and don't share it.
• Don't choose an obvious password. Use some imagination and forethought. What would be hard to guess?Your password is not your mantra and should not express your personality or indicate in any way who you are.
• Don't use a word in any language; some people crack computers by automatically trying every word in a dictionary. Include digits and special characters to make your password hard to guess. See dictionary attack .
• Use the initial letters of a memorable phrase or title to create a password. Again, using digits and special characters will help safeguard your password.
• Change your password regularly, but not so often you can't keep track of it.

secret character string that is required to log onto a computer system, thus preventing unauthorized persons from obtaining access to the computer. Computer users may password-protect their files in some systems.