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Password protection is important for sensitive documents on computers and web servers. Operating systems have built-in options, but third-party software and hardware devices offer higher security. Websites can use .htaccess files for password protection.
In the modern world many people keep some of their most important and sensitive documents on their computer or web server. Financial records, important photographs and business correspondence can all be kept on one machine and making sure that not everyone can view them is a priority for some people. For this reason, a number of simple password protection solutions have been developed over the past two decades, which have become even easier to use and more powerful in recent years.
Setting up a password protection system on your personal computer is the first step in protecting your data. How you choose to do this largely depends on how secure you need the information. While most services are robust enough to stop casual viewers of your computer, and even those that may have malicious intent, they probably won’t keep a dedicated hacker with access to the right tools and extended periods of time out.
Many operating systems have their own password protection schemes built right into them. In Mac OS, for example, each user can set up his own profile, which he can then protect with his own password. This prevents casual users from accessing your computer if you leave it unattended and from viewing your files, but it’s a fairly low level of security.
OSX also has a native mode for password protection at the firmware level, offering a much greater degree of security than a simple user login. This requires installing an application that is not the operating system’s default and running the firmware password utility. And for users who want to enable password protection on a specific file, there are a number of third-party software solutions for OSX that accomplish this. A native solution is also available by creating a disk image with Disk Utility and encrypting it with your own password.
There are also built-in password protection systems on a Windows® computer, similar to those found on a Mac. Users can have their own logins and passwords, limiting casual access to files and applications, but still remain open enough to dedicated intruders. There are more sophisticated third-party applications that can provide a much higher level of security, although they are still far from perfect, as they must exist on the operating system. A BIOS-level password may be enabled, depending on the BIOS used, which can offer a much higher degree of security.
Hardware security devices may also be used, and some computers have built-in security systems. A common form found on modern laptops is fingerprint lock, which prevents the computer from being turned on unless a match is found for the primary user’s fingerprint. Some computers also include their own hardware-level password devices, which are generally more secure than software passwords.
There are several ways to set up password protection on a remote website, but the most common method uses the .htaccess file on Apache servers. The .htaccess file can be linked to a .htpasswd file, which includes an encrypted username and password, which can restrict access to directories, files, or an entire server. While not a completely secure setup, the password protection afforded by a properly configured .htaccess file is pretty strong, and setup is incredibly simple. Many web hosts also include a simple user interface within their web access panel, which allows users to set up password protection via an .htaccess file via their browser.
