Your Password May Be Stronger Than US Nuclear Codes During The Cold War – Casson Living – World News, Breaking News, International News

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        <p>Have you ever paused to consider just how secure your passwords really are? Picture this: what if the security surrounding the United States nuclear arsenal was as weak as a password based on your pet's name followed by "1"? During the tense era of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, safeguarding nuclear codes was a critical issue.</p><br />
        <p>In an unusual proposal during the 1980s, a Harvard scholar suggested a rather unconventional method for securing these codes—by embedding them in the chest of a colleague of the president. The idea was that to initiate a nuclear launch, the president would need to physically extract the codes, which would require a rather drastic action. Roger Fisher introduced this peculiar concept in an article back in 1981.</p><br />
        <p>The reception to Fisher's idea was decidedly mixed. Some officials within the Pentagon expressed concern that the necessity for such extreme measures could cloud the president's judgment in a crisis. This led to the introduction of more traditional security protocols, which mandated that multiple authorized personnel, in conjunction with the president, were required to approve a launch.</p><br />
        <p>Even with these added layers of security, there were alarming reports that the Strategic Air Command (SAC) occasionally set their launch codes to all zeros to simplify the launch process during the Cold War. According to former launch officer Bruce Blair, this practice continued for several years, despite official denials from the U.S. Air Force.</p><br />
        <p>In response to potential threats, a more comprehensive security system was established in 1977 to prevent any unauthorized launches of nuclear weapons. While the notion of using all zeros as codes may seem incredibly troubling, it’s worth noting that during this period, there were no unauthorized missile launches. The need for stringent nuclear safeguards is paramount, especially in times of increased global tensions and uncertainties.</p><br />
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