PT152 S2 Q3 ExplanationRequiring that passwords

Answer choices, explained

1. A

   Irrelevant Distinction1% picked this

   People who use mnemonic devices to help remember their password are able to easily remember passwords that are

   We want to strengthen the idea that complex password requirements lead to more account break-ins, because they don't reduce then number of times that a hacker guesses the password, and because they increase the number of times that a user writes their password down. Since this answer is about people who don't write their password down, it's irrelevant to us.

   1%
2. B

   No Impact0% picked this

   User accounts that are automatically locked after a certain number of incorrect password guesses are usually unlocked

   We want to strengthen the idea that complex password requirements lead to more account break-ins, because they don't reduce then number of times that a hacker guesses the password, and because they increase the number of times that a user writes their password down. This answer is about how long it takes until a user can try to login to their account, once it's been frozen from too many password attempts. That has nothing to do with our goal.

   0%
3. C

   Correct94% picked this

   When a password is written down, it increases the chances that someone will be able to use that password to gain unauthorized

   Why this is right

   We want to strengthen the idea that complex password requirements lead to more account break-ins, because they don't reduce then number of times that a hacker guesses the password, and because they increase the number of times that a user writes their password down. This answer tells us that writing a password down increases the chance of a break-in. The author's argument boils down to this: CONCLUSION Complex password requirements lead to more account break-ins. why? EVIDENCE Complex password requirements lead to more people writing down their password. MISSING LINK More people writing down their password leads to more account break-ins.

   Skill tested: Strengthen · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   94%
4. D

   No Impact2% picked this

   When users who forget their passwords are locked out of their own accounts, they must often go through a complicated process in

   We want to strengthen the idea that complex password requirements lead to more account break-ins, because they don't reduce then number of times that a hacker guesses the password, and because they increase the number of times that a user writes their password down. This answer, like (B), is about how long it takes until a user can try to login to their account, once it's been frozen from too many password attempts. That has nothing to do with our goal.

   2%
5. E

   No Impact3% picked this

   Passwords that conform to rules of length, complexity, and unpredictability are no harder to guess than passwords that do

   If an answer said, "Passwords that conform to rules of [etc.] are easier to guess than passwords that don't conform to such rules", that would strengthen. If complex passwords are easier to guess, that would help support the author's conclusion that the complex password requirements lead to more account break-ins. But this answer doesn't say complex passwords are easier to guess; it just says they're not-harder, which doesn't do anything.

   3%