Checking for Fake Drivers' (Users') Licenses

Checking for Fake Drivers' (Users') Licenses

In most countries, the government builds the roads. Unsurprisingly, the government then regulates (that is what governments do, right?) who gets to drive on the road by requiring a driver's license.

Similarly, before you can use most servers, you need to have the license or right to use that server. Instead of a driver's license, you have a username and a password. The username essentially acts as your name on the network, and the password is a secret string of text that only you are supposed to know. The basic authentication process works something like Figure 17-1.