Welcome to Symbol - Lauren Ipsum: A Story About Computer Science and Other Improbable Things - page 23

“No!” they shouted together.
“Is it 'November First'?” That was Laurie's birthday.
“No!” they shouted again.
“Only one try left, miss,” said Tollens.
“Oh, no! Really?”
“You can try only so many times. It's just good security.”
“Do I even have an account?” she wondered.
“We can't confirm or deny that,” answered Ponens. “That would be bad security.”
“Do I . . . not have an account?”
“We can't deny or confirm that, either!” answered Tollens.
“It's very simple—” began Ponens.
“—yes, yes,” Laurie interrupted. “If I have it, I know it, but if I don't, you can't tell me. And
you can give me a hint only if I set it up earlier!” This certainly was very good security.
Think, Laurie, think!
“Okay, let's start over,” she said.
“Very well, miss,” said Tollens. “Name?”
“I told you, it's Lau—” she stopped herself. “Actually . . . my name is Eponymous Bach.”
“Password?” said Ponens.
It couldn't be that simple, could it?
“Bach's Password.”
“Welcome!” said Ponens and Tollens, waving her through the turnstile.
Of course Bach would name her password after herself!