1.616: NIS users can't login, do I need '*' in /etc/passwd?

Aparently at least one version of AIX InfoExplorer suggests
administrators use "+:*:0:0:::" as the last entry in the /etc/passwd
file of NIS clients for security reasons.  If the configuration SMIT
is done using SMIT it will actually append "+::0:0:::" which works and
does not compromise security.  Using the '*' in the passwd field
actaully prevents NIS users from logging in.

"+::0:0:::" should not allow you to login as user "+" and without a
password even when NIS is disabled, but it never hurts to double
check.