Case-Sensitive: if the software demanding the password is case-sensitive, that means that upper-case and lower-case letters will not be recognized as identical--i.e., IAmHappy is not the same as iamhappy.

Encryption: the process by which passwords or other sensitive data are scrambled by the software, so that they can't be extracted by others. Most encryption procedures nowadays are so thorough that the data is all but impossible to decode.

2torial #0499: Learn2 Choose and Use a Password (Continued) Assess the task Start by learning what your password cannot be. Is there a minimum or maximum length? Is the system case-sensitive (see Keywords)? Are special characters allowed, or must it be limited to numbers and letters? Consider the convenience factor. A computer access code you enter several times a day should probably not involve elaborate keyboard gymnastics. On the other hand, a PIN code (Personal Identification Number) for a cash machine shouldn't be so simple that a casual observer could discern the pattern.   Another factor is the number of applications of the password. It's not a good idea to use the same password in multiple circumstances; instead, build a "mental key chain" of passwords that are thematically linked in a manner known only to you (see Step 6). That means you'll need to start out with a password that supports such linking. Step 2