Monday
Monday: Passwords are keys
A neighbor brings in a tablet with a locked screen. "I forgot the password," they sigh. Rocket cracks his knuckles. "Easy. Let me guess it!" He types 1234.
Raven frowns. "What do you notice about that guess? If you can guess it in one try, who else can?"
Nova flickers thoughtfully. "Would you like a hint? A key that fits every door is not really a key."
Why devices have locks
A device holds a lot about the people who use it. Photos, messages, homework, games and saved places.
A password is a key. Only people with the key can open the door. Without it, the information stays shut.
A password that is easy to guess is like a key left under the mat. Anyone can find it.
Short passwords and common ones, like 1234 or password, are guessed in seconds. Computers can try thousands of guesses very fast.
What makes a password strong
Longer is stronger. Every extra letter makes guessing much harder.
A mix of letters, numbers and symbols helps too. A strange phrase beats a single word.
A strong password is also a secret. It is never typed into a message. It is never said out loud in a crowd.
In this course, a grown-up keeps the passwords. A kid never changes one. If a device is locked, you tell a grown-up.
| Password idea | Strong or weak? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1234 | Weak | Short and very common |
| password | Weak | One common word |
| purple-comet-sings-7 | Strong | Long, odd phrase with a number |
| the name of a pet | Weak | Easy for friends to guess |
- Read the question.
- Tap your answer.
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| A longer password is harder to guess. | ? |
| 1234 is a strong password. | ? |
| A password can be typed into a message if a friend asks. | ? |
| A kid tells a grown-up when a device is locked. | ? |
Why computers guess so fast
Remember the processor from Week 3. It follows instructions very fast. A program can try one guess after another without getting tired.
That is why length matters. Each extra character multiplies the number of guesses needed.
A password of four digits has only ten thousand possible combinations. A computer can try them all in moments.
Where passwords live
A family needs many passwords. One for the tablet, one for the video call app, one for the game.
A grown-up keeps them in one safe place. That might be a locked notebook or a special app for passwords.
Using the same password everywhere is risky. If one door is opened, every door is open. Different doors need different keys.
If you see a password written on a note by a device, tell a grown-up. Keys do not belong on the door.
Do not use a real password. This is only practice.
Count the characters. Compare it with 1234.
Great thinking, Crew Technician! Passwords are keys, and grown-ups hold them. Tomorrow you will learn why updates matter, even when they feel like a bother.