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How to Select the Perfect Password

June 20, 2014

Most people don’t put a lot of thought into creating a password. It’s usually easiest just to create a short, easy-to-remember password, or even just to use the same password for every account you have. After all, the average person probably won’t be able to guess your password.

However, hackers often use password-cracking software that can keep testing many different passwords until they find the correct one, and they can easily crack weak passwords.

By creating strong passwords, you can greatly reduce the chance that your personal or financial information will be stolen.

Many people create passwords based on their spouse’s names, a hobby, or a simple pattern, since those types of passwords are easy to remember. Unfortunately, they are also very easy for hackers to guess.

To create a strong password, you will need to avoid these types of common missteps:

• Never use personal information such as your name, birthday, or spouse’s name. Personal information is often publicly available, which makes it much easier for someone to guess your password.
• Use a longer password. Your password should be at least six characters long, and for extra security it should ideally be at least 12 characters (if the site allows it).
• If you need to write down your passwords, keep them in a secure place. It’s even better if you encrypt your passwords, or just write down hints for them that others won’t be able to understand.
• Don’t use the same password for each account. If someone does discover your password for one account, all of your other accounts will be vulnerable.
• Try to include numbers, symbols, and both uppercase and lowercase letters (if the site allows it).
• Avoid using words that can be found in the dictionary. For example, “swimming1” would be a weak password.
• Random passwords are the strongest. Use a password generator instead of trying to think of one your own.
• Random passwords are more difficult to remember, so create a mnemonic device. For example, “H=jNp2#” can be remembered as “HARRY = jessica NOKIA paris 2 #”. This may still seem random, but with a bit of practice it becomes relatively easy to memorize.