Rock Salt™ is a method for storing and accessing password verification data on multi-user computer systems that resists remote attacks. Along with commonly- employed measures that limit the number of unsuccessful attempts to login or otherwise verify a password, it allows users to choose relatively simple passwords with full security. The secret component cannot be easily leaked or exfiltrated by malware, does not require periodic backup and is isolated in a way that allows it to be protected by conventional security measures, such as safes, alarm systems and video surveillance, from attackers who somehow gain access to the computing facility.