Where Am I? - Internet Basics
4. Security
4.1. Website Security
Passwords are an extra level of security for some sites to ensure that only approved users can view or interact with their data. They are also used to identify the user and provide you with customized access to a website. Because they can be easy to guess and are frequently stolen, many sites now require you to change your password on a regular basis and to create complex passwords containing symbols and numbers.
On sites that have a high level of security (usually when a financial transaction is involved) you may also be asked to enter a verification code. This may be a random machine generated password or number that will be sent to you via email or it may be an image on the webpage that is displayed in a way that only a human being can read and re-type.
Tip: If you find the image too difficult to read, you are usually permitted to ask for a second image so that you can try again. There are also often alternatives provided for those who are visually impaired.
