"In order for a miner to verify a block of transactions, he or she must first gain access to it. Each block is locked behind an extremely complex password, and miners use high-powered computers to run the complex calculations that lead to correct passwords."
journos...
secured (from alteration) by a hash =/= password
"Now that you (kind of) understand the Bitcoin system, perhaps you want to use it. First, you have to buy bitcoins, much like you’d need to buy pesos if you went to Mexico. In this case, rather than hitting the airport exchange booth, you’ll need to purchase a bitcoin wallet—computer software that allows you to store, spend, and receive bitcoins on your mobile device or computer—from a site like Blockchain.info. "
I hear their prices for those wallets are very reasonable. They might cost you an email address, or less.