The Secret is Out!

Who does not love a good secret? Being in on a secret is exciting! You know something that someone else does not know; you are instantly special and separated from the pack. Congratulations! But what if that secret is crap? A false façade someone has put up to cover up the truth or to mislead you to think differently about the person or situation.

Deception is real and happens every day. Everywhere you look there is deception being played out.

The guy sitting next to you right now, is that his real hair color? Are your neighbors really happily married? Did we really land on the moon? Is global warming real? Did Al Gore really invent the Internet? Is the dress black and blue or white and gold? What should I believe is the truth?

Secret is not always a four-letter word

These are all real questions that can run through one’s head during the day and make you question what seems to be reality. But are these things all states of deception or just perception? So many questions; it could make your head explode and keep you up at night!

When thinking about deception vs. perception it can all be a state of mind and intention. Does the government really tell us every threat that comes on their radar? Probably not and to quote a friend that works in Military Intelligence, “If you knew half the stuff I know, you wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.” Does that make the government deceptive?

Shared Secret Authentication

What about secrets that need to be kept?

A password should always be kept a secret. A password is a shared secret authentication mechanism, allowing you to access information that was dubbed to only been seen by you and a privileged few. That password is a deliberate secret that needs to be kept that way and not as exciting as a secret amongst friends. However, the purpose of the secret is where the importance lies.   

Your password is a key that grants you access to your accounts. This form of shared secret authentication allows you to move freely within your accounts and also protects those accounts from others gaining access.

But what if your password is too easy to guess?

They say that some of the best secrets are hidden in plain sight. I beg to differ: that phrase should not even be considered when creating a password. Since a password can be a very powerful thread that can unravel a huge ball of yarn into your personal life, you should make it complex, uneasy to guess or crack. Many people will make their password related to something easy to remember, like their kid’s names or even their birthday. Although these passwords may be easy for the user, they are also easy to figure out with a little social media mining.

In Greek mythology, the Lynx is known for more than just being a fierce hunter, he is known to be the great keeper of secrets.  Since that password you hold so near and dear is your identifier, your shared secret authentication, you should build a password and be a lynx about it. Protect that secret with all of your might and build a secret worth protecting.