Passwords: Password protection: the next generation

Since the dawn of computing, passwords and access codes have been used to protect access to computer systems. These passwords protect user accounts. Systems ask for a username and password before access is granted. As some user accounts have increased privileges on systems, the security of these accounts is often given more thought than normal user accounts. However, obtaining the password of even a lowly unprivileged account can be used to gain a toehold onto a system. This can provide a potential springboard to escalate privileges and gain administration access.