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These latter are obliged to deliver the tablet to the tribunes before dark. All do the same until it reaches the first maniples, those encamped near the tents of the tribunes. The way in which they secure the passing round of the watchword for the night is as follows: from the tenth maniple of each class of infantry and cavalry, the maniple which is encamped at the lower end of the street, a man is chosen who is relieved from guard duty, and he attends every day at sunset at the tent of the tribune, and receiving from him the watchword-that is a wooden tablet with the word inscribed on it – takes his leave, and on returning to his quarters passes on the watchword and tablet before witnesses to the commander of the next maniple, who in turn passes it to the one next to him. Polybius describes the system for the distribution of watchwords in the Roman military as follows:
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Sentries would challenge those wishing to enter an area to supply a password or watchword, and would only allow a person or group to pass if they knew the password. Passwords have been used since ancient times. 7 Alternatives to passwords for authentication.4.4.3 Hash-based challenge–response methods.4.4.2 Transmission through encrypted channels.4.4.1 Simple transmission of the password.4.4 Methods of verifying a password over a network.4.2 Limits on the number of password guesses.4.1 Rate at which an attacker can try guessed passwords.4 Factors in the security of a password system.
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