Secret Passwords are Often Used to Control Access to Computers.

Question: Secret passwords are often used to control access to computers. When employees select their own password , they frequently choose such easily guessed password as their initials or birthdates. To improve security, employers should assign randomly generated passwords to employees rather than allowing employees to make up their own.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the conclusion drawn above?

(A) If passwords are generated randomly, it is theoretically possible that employees will be assigned passwords that they might have selected on their own.
(B) Randomly generated passwords are so difficult for employees to recall that they often record the passwords in places where the passwords could be easily seen by others.
(C) Computer systems protected by passwords are designed to ignore commands that are entered by employees or others who use invalid passwords.
(D) In general, the higher the level of security maintained at the computer system, the more difficult it is for unauthorized users to obtain access to the system.
(E) Control of physical access to computers by the use of locked doors and guards should be used in addition to passwords in order to maintain security.

Answer: A

Explanation:

A GMAT Critical Reasoning section comprises some facts and arguments. GMAT critical reasoning tests the reasoning skills along with the candidate's logical and analytical thinking abilities. The candidate has to deduce the correct option by finding the logically correct argument.

The statement states - Secret passwords are often used to control access to computers. When employees select their own password , they frequently choose such easily guessed password as their initials or birthdates. To improve security, employers should assign randomly generated passwords to employees rather than allowing employees to make up their own.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the conclusion drawn above?

(A)This password is no more a secret to the employers since it will be assigned to each employee to access his/her own assigned computer. this statement has undermined the speaker's opinion.
(B) Definitely, passwords are not meant to be complex for easy access. therefore no employer would create a random password that neither they nor the employees can easily remember.
(C) Computer systems that are protected with passwords are not designed to ignore employees, but rather, to ignore invaders of privacy.
(D) This statement seems correct but it has not done justice to undermine the speaker's motion. The higher the level of security the lower the risk of insecurity, this is why there should be a random password created by the employers for the employee so that it is only the employer and the employee that can have access to the computer system, without intruders knowing of this pin.
(E) This statement has added an additional security level which is not part of the speaker's statement on how the initiation of a password can be effectively utilised. Not correct.

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