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<img post-id="561" fifu-featured="1" width="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/assets.iflscience.com/assets/articleNo/77173/aImg/80837/jfk-meta.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Your Password May Be Stronger Than US Nuclear Codes During The Cold War" title="Your Password May Be Stronger Than US Nuclear Codes During The Cold War" decoding="async"/><br />
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<p>Have you ever paused to consider just how secure your passwords really are? Now, think about this: what if the security surrounding the US nuclear arsenal was as flimsy as using your pet's name followed by the number “1”? Back during the Cold War era, the integrity of nuclear codes was a serious issue that kept officials awake at night.</p><br />
<p>In the 1980s, a Harvard scholar came up with an unusual proposition—embedding nuclear launch codes into the body of an aide to the president. To authorize a nuclear strike, the president would literally have to stab the codes out of this person. This unconventional idea was outlined in an article by Roger Fisher back in 1981.</p><br />
<p>Fisher's suggestion sparked a mix of reactions. Some officials at the Pentagon worried that having to take such extreme measures could cloud the president's judgment in a crisis. Consequently, more traditional safety protocols were established, which included the necessity for multiple authorized individuals to agree before a nuclear launch could take place.</p><br />
<p>Despite these security measures, there were unsettling allegations that the Strategic Air Command (SAC) had set the launch codes to all zeros, allowing for quicker strike responses during the Cold War. According to former launch officer Bruce Blair, this practice persisted for years, even as the US Air Force denied it.</p><br />
<p>In 1977, a more sophisticated system was finally put in place to prevent any unauthorized nuclear launches. While the notion of using all zeros as launch codes might be disconcerting, it's worth noting that there were no instances of unauthorized missile launches during that period. The significance of strong nuclear security measures cannot be overstated, especially during eras of increased tension and global instability.</p><br />
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