This week’s password cartoon toys with the popular belief that “X” marks the spot on a map where you will find buried treasure. But throughout history, there has been debate over whether or not this idea is based on actual historical facts. Probably the most famous fictional archaeologist, Indiana Jones, had this to say about the notion:

Archaeology is the search for fact. Not truth. If it’s truth you’re interested in, Dr. Tyree’s philosophy class is right down the hall. So forget any ideas you’ve got about lost cities, exotic travel, and digging up the world. We do not follow maps to buried treasure and “X” never, ever, marks the spot!

Ironically, anyone who saw the Raiders of the Lost Ark knows that X actually does end up marking the spot. Although Dr. Jones is not alone in his belief.  Many real life archaeologists would agree that, in general, X does not mark the spot.  However, in their book X Marks the Spot: The Archaeology of Piracy (New Perspectives on Maritime History and Nautical Archaeology) Russell K. Skowronek, associate professor of anthropology and founder of the Archaeology research Lab at Santa Clara University, and Charles R. Ewen, professor of anthropology and director of the Archaeology Laboratories at East Carolina University, would postulate that sometimes it does.

In 2010, we still have pirates, although today’s sea pirates look much different than what television and movies have portrayed them as in the past.  Recently, animated sitcom South Park aired an episode satirizing today’s thieves with the pop culture notion of pirates. You can see a clip from that season 13 episode “Fatbeard” below (warning: clip contains content suitable for mature audiences).

Today, our passwords are the equivalent of our treasure, and Mitto offers a way for to keep that treasure hidden and safe from online predators, who like the pirates of folk lore, are increasingly trying to steal our treasure.  Whether or not you believe that X marks the spot, it’s important for you to keep your passwords safe from the online pirates who look to steal your sensitive information. (Note: pirates in this reference are not to be confused with people who commit copyright infringement, which is often referred to as piracy). With Mitto as your secure password manager, you should feel safer as you navigate the deep seas of the Internet.