Acronym for Password Authentication Protocol. A
method for verifying the identity of a user attempting to log on to a
Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) server. PAP is used if a more rigorous method,
such as the Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP), is not available
or if the user name and password that the user submitted to PAP must be sent to
another program without encryption. 2. Acronym for Printer Access Protocol. The protocol
in AppleTalk networks that governs communication between computers and printers.