The Primary Use of a Password

C.

Source: TIPTON, Hal, (ISC)2, Introduction to the CISSP Exam presentation.

The PRIMARY use of a password is to authenticate the user. Passwords are used to verify the identity of an individual before granting them access to a particular system, application, or resource.

Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user or system entity to ensure that they are who they claim to be. Passwords are commonly used as a form of authentication because they are relatively easy to use and understand.

When a user enters their password, the system compares it to the stored password associated with that user account. If the entered password matches the stored password, the system grants access to the user.

Passwords are also used to identify the user, as they are typically unique to each user account. However, identifying the user is not the primary use of a password, as it is possible for someone to know the correct password for a user account without being the actual user.

In addition, passwords can be used to segregate various user accesses, but this is not the primary use of a password. Access segregation is typically achieved through the use of different user accounts with varying levels of privileges or permissions.

Overall, the primary use of a password is to authenticate the user, ensuring that only authorized users are granted access to a system, application, or resource.