How To Create a Secure Password
Because we live in a digital world, almost every account we make requires a secure password. And as our digital age becomes more advanced, our passwords must keep up. Many accounts require specific criteria such as a number and a letter, or a special character. With all these requirements, creating a secure password has become a hassle. Keep in mind that safety and security are at the forefront of these requirements. While creating a secure password may become a pain, it is ideal to prevent identity theft, hacking and more. Check out our tips and tricks to help you better manage your passwords.
Criteria:
Most passwords will require:
a minimum of 6-10 characters (we suggest start with 8 or more characters)
at least one uppercase and one lowercase letter (Aa, Bb, Cc)
one number (1,2,3,4,5,6)
one special character (#!%*&%*)
Tips:
Think of something no one will guess
avoid names of pets, children, family
avoid birthdates and anniversary dates
avoid places of birth or residency
Never share your password with anyone
Never store your password
avoid checking the “remember me” box
avoid allowing your web browser to save your password
Every account should have a different password. Read tip #8 for ways to easily remember multiple passwords.
Write your passwords down and place in a safe and secure area. Remember, you don’t want anyone to find your passwords.
Never carry your password list with you outside your home or office.
Creating a Secure Password:
Now that we have covered the basics, lets talk about how to pick a password, keeping in mind everything we have discussed above.
Pick a statement or a phrase that you can remember and add a special character.
Take the first 3 letters out of each word to create a pass code.
Example
Statement or sentence: Ryan loves cheese.
Underline 2-3 letters of each word: Ryan loves cheese.
Passcode: Ryalovche
Now add a special character and/or number
Ryalovche!2
Congratulations. You have officially created a password that is secure, not recognizable by others and memorable as long as you remember your phrase “Ryan loves cheese.”
Pick a new password for each account. You don’t have to choose a completely different password. Keep your passcode and add a letter or number to each to differentiate.
Let’s use the password we created in the above example. We will using “Ryalovche!2” as our base. For each account we will simply add a letter or a number that is associated with that account.
Example:
Base Password: Ryalovche!2
Facebook: FRyalovche!2
Twitter: TRyalovche!2
Notice that I have added the first letter of each account title to the passcode, while keeping the base password. This simple tip will allow anyone from hacking into your account(s) should they ever figure out your base password.
Change your passwords often. Over time, your password may become exposed to someone, something or worse. Changing your password often is necessary in today’s world. It may be annoying, but would you rather risk someone hacking into your bank account?
Password Managers
Password managers like LastPass can be handy for those who struggle to remember passwords or passcodes. These managers allow you to store your usernames and passwords along with other notes and details in one place. This is a great way to organize your account details. They will require a username and passcode to log in for your security.
Keep in mind, password managers, like banking sites and credit card readers can also be hacked. If your password manager is hacked, the hacker will have all of your information at their hands, which can create a lot of problems. We recommend that you choose wisely should you go this route, and change your passwords often.
