Tech History: The 1st Computer Password Was Created in 1961

Today, we rely on passwords for nearly everything — from logging into email to protecting financial data. But did you know the very first computer password dates back to 1961?

At MIT, researchers were building the Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS), one of the earliest systems that allowed multiple people to use a single computer. To keep user files separate, MIT introduced a novel idea: the password. Each user received their own login credentials, giving them a private slice of computing power.

It was revolutionary — until it wasn’t. By the mid-1960s, one clever user discovered a way to print out the system’s master password file, giving them access to everyone else’s accounts. In other words, the world’s first password was barely out of the gate before it suffered the world’s first password hack.

More than 60 years later, passwords remain a cornerstone of digital security — but they’ve always been vulnerable. That’s why businesses today lean on stronger protections like multi-factor authentication, encryption, and zero-trust security models.

From 1961 to today, one thing hasn’t changed: attackers are always looking for a way in. The lesson? Don’t let your security practices get stuck in the past.