Password - a Form of Authentication

A password is a form of secret authentication data that is used to control access to a resource. The password is kept secret from those not allowed access, and those wishing to gain access are tested on whether or not they know the password and are granted or denied access accordingly. Passwords vary in the degree of public awareness, security protection and frequency of change. Mitigating authentication weaknesses by increasing password length and complexity will reduce security if passwords are pushed beyond the peak of their effectiveness. This paper deals with an approach to that problem.