Isn't a password a form of security through obscurity?

Question

I know that security through obscurity is frowned upon and considered not really secure, but isn\'t a password security through obscurity? It\'s only secure so long as no one f

Answer 1

You are right in that a password is only secure if it is obscure. But the "obsure" part of "security through obscurity" refers to obscurity of the system. With passwords, the system is completely open -- you know the exact method that is used to unlock it, but the key, which is not part of the system, is the unknown.

If we were to generalize, then yes, all security is by means of obscurity. However, the phrase "security through obscurity" does not refer to this.