The History of Passwords – From Ancient Codes to Digital Keys

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World Password Day text on the left. On the right there is a blue lock, and it is Infront of numbers that resemble as code.

A Quick Trip Through Password History

Passwords keep our digital data safe, but they’ve been around way longer than computers. Let’s take an interesting look at their story!

Ancient Times: Secret Words

Way back in ancient Rome, soldiers used “watchwords” to spot friends at night. If you didn’t know the phrase—like “Moonlit Arrow”—you were in trouble! Castles in the Middle Ages did the same, asking for a secret word to let you in. No password, no entry—just you and the castle moat.

Puzzle piece with many jumbled letters and numbers inside of it. The most unblurry section reads " SECRET'CODE. These letters are black and red. The puzzle piece is white.

1920s Speakeasies: Whisper the Magic Word

During the 1920s in the U.S., secret bars called speakeasies used passwords to keep out the cops. You’d whisper something like “Swordfish” to get in and sip your illegal drink. It made people feel like part of a cool, secret club!

1960s: Passwords Go Digital

In the 1960s, computers started using passwords. A scientist named Fernando Corbato at MIT made the first system so people could keep their files private on shared computers. But in 1962, someone hacked the system and printed everyone’s passwords—oops! It showed passwords needed to get better.

1990s: The Internet Explosion

When the internet took off in the 1990s, passwords became a must for email, shopping, and more. Problem? People picked easy ones like “123456.” Hackers loved that! In 2004, Bill Gates said passwords would disappear soon. Guess what? We’re still using them in 2025!

Sitcky notes with crumbled passwords on them reading, "New Password 3g[Cx!2pM", "Password111", "qwerty123", and "123123". Behind this is a white keyboard on a black wooden table.

Today: Smarter Passwords

Now, we use stronger passwords like “B3ar!Hug$2025” and tools like password managers to remember them. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds extra safety with a code sent to your phone. But hacks still happen—over 1 billion passwords were stolen in 2023! And “qwerty” is still a popular (bad) choice.

Biometric scanner process. There is a fingerprint being scanned around more icons, they show laptops, computers, shields, documents, databases, phones, a house, and a lock.

The Future: Biometrics on the Rise

Passwords might not stick around forever. Biometric security—like fingerprints, facial scans, and voice recognition—is growing fast. In 2025, 81% of smartphones use biometrics, and 245 million Americans use it daily. Airports, banks, and even hospitals are adopting it for secure, touchless authentication. But concerns about privacy and data breaches remain, with 54% of experts worried about how biometric data is handled.

Celebrate World Password Day!

This World Password Day, let’s make our passwords stronger. Ditch “password123,” use a password manager, and turn on 2FA. Let’s keep our secrets safe!