Passwords

I am a secret. Shhh. I am a whisper just for you. I am like a magic key. I can open a special, secret door that no one else can. Do you know what I am. I am a Password. Hello. I love to keep your special things safe and sound. It is my favorite job to make sure your treasures are just for you.

My first job was a long, long, long time ago. Brave soldiers stood by big, tall walls to keep their friends safe inside a fort. This was in a place called ancient Rome, around the year 100 BCE. When a friend came to the door, they would whisper my secret name. If they knew my name, the door would open. It was our special game to keep everyone safe inside. Then, many years later in 1961, a very smart man named Fernando Corbató gave me a new job. He taught me how to be a key for big, giant computers. The computers were as big as a room. I helped everyone have their own secret spot inside the big computer.

Now, I am your very own secret key. I help you play fun games on a bright, shiny tablet. Tap, tap, tap. You type my secret name and the game opens. Whee. I help your mommy and daddy open their phones to see pictures of you. I keep their special things safe and sound, just like I did for the soldiers. I am your little helper, keeping all your fun things just for you. I am your special secret.