Test your knowledge of secure passwords with these trivia questions. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the correct answer.

1.) In password protection, this is a random string of data used to modify a password hash.
a. sheepdip
b. salt
c. bypass
d. dongle

2.) A visitor to your company could steal user passwords using this direct observation technique.
a. emanation monitoring
b. chaffing
c. hijacking
d. shoulder surfing

3.) This method used by password crackers to identify correct passwords involves running through combinations of characters within a predetermined length until the correct combination is found.
a. scanning
b. brute-force
c. phreaking
d. dictionary search

4.) This should be used to help strengthen password security by setting guidelines for password length, types of characters to be used, frequency of changing passwords and who has access to them.
a. authentication
b. smart card
c. password policy
d. authorization

5.) This is a place in the Linux operating system where encoded passwords are stored so that they aren't available to intruders trying to break into the system.
a. signature file
b. Encrypting File System
c. shadow password file
d. AVI file

What did you think of these trivia questions? Are they too easy? Too hard? Let us know.

1.) b. salt
For more information on encryption, visit our Best Web Links.

2.) d. shoulder surfing
To learn more about shoulder surfing and other hacking methods, visit our Best Web Links on common vulnerabilities and prevention tips.

3.) b. brute force
For more information on password cracking, visit our Best Web Links.

4.) c. password policy
For more information on policies, visit our Best Web Links.

5.) c. shadow password file
For more information on password shadowing, read this expert Q&A.