The idea of the password has ancient roots, originating from the
need for secure access and authentication in military contexts. The
earliest known use of passwords can be traced back to ancient
Roman times. During the Roman Republic and Empire, military
units used a system called the ”watchword” or ”password” (Latin:tessera). The tessera was a token or a password given to soldiers on
watch duty, ensuring that only those with the correct word could
enter a secured area or pass through checkpoints.
This concept of using a secret word or phrase to grant access evolved over time and was eventually applied to various forms of security in other contexts, including personal, commercial, and later, digital security. The idea of the password as we understand it today, specifically for computers and online systems, began to take shape in the 1960s. One of the first documented uses of a computer password was at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on the Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) developed in 1961. Each user had an account protected by a password, which allowed them to access their files and computing resources.
This methodology later expanded to the commercial internet. In the nascent days of the internet, this simple mechanism was sufficient to protect online accounts and personal information. The email-and-password system became the cornerstone of digital security, offering users a straightforward method to claim ownership over their online identities.
The password, initially seen as a robust security measure, was simple yet flawed. Users were expected to create complex combinations of characters, numbers, and symbols to ensure security. However, as the internet expanded and the number of online services proliferated, managing passwords became a burden. Users often reused passwords across multiple sites, creating a significant vulnerability. The rise of hacking, phishing, and data breaches exposed the weaknesses of this system, leading to a growing recognition that email and password alone were no longer sufficient to ensure self-custody of digital assets.
This concept of using a secret word or phrase to grant access evolved over time and was eventually applied to various forms of security in other contexts, including personal, commercial, and later, digital security. The idea of the password as we understand it today, specifically for computers and online systems, began to take shape in the 1960s. One of the first documented uses of a computer password was at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on the Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) developed in 1961. Each user had an account protected by a password, which allowed them to access their files and computing resources.
This methodology later expanded to the commercial internet. In the nascent days of the internet, this simple mechanism was sufficient to protect online accounts and personal information. The email-and-password system became the cornerstone of digital security, offering users a straightforward method to claim ownership over their online identities.
The password, initially seen as a robust security measure, was simple yet flawed. Users were expected to create complex combinations of characters, numbers, and symbols to ensure security. However, as the internet expanded and the number of online services proliferated, managing passwords became a burden. Users often reused passwords across multiple sites, creating a significant vulnerability. The rise of hacking, phishing, and data breaches exposed the weaknesses of this system, leading to a growing recognition that email and password alone were no longer sufficient to ensure self-custody of digital assets.