It seems like every site you visit these days asks you to create an account and add a new password. ‘Password 101’ advises that for each account, you should have a unique password to avoid becoming a victim of online hacking. Considering how many passwords you need to create, and how complex each password should be, this seems like a daunting task!
This is article will teach you:
- How to create a strong password
- How to remember it!
When it comes to online passwords, your children will also have a number of accounts online, so it’s important to share this information with them so that can be sure to create a strong online profile, resistant to brute-force hacking.
The key aspects of a strong password
Every password you use should meet the following criteria:
- At least 8 characters in length
- A mix of lower-case and upper-case numbers
- Include numbers
- Include special characters and symbols
- It should have no ties to your personal information (name, contact details, spouse details, anything related to your life)
- No dictionary words
But how are you supposed to remember such passwords?
And no, the answer is NOT to write them down! The secret is to make the password memorable to you, but hard to guess. Here are a few tricks to try:
- Use a phrase that can incorporate acronyms or shortcut codes, for example: 2BorNot2B_ThatIsThe? (To be or not to be, that is the question – from Shakespeare)
- Use symbols to include emojis
- You can uses phrases that mean something to you, or that are associated with the website you’re using
- See your keyboard as a canvas and draw a picture on your keyboard
- You can try a phrase that can be adapted for each site e.g.:
- ABT2_uz_FBK! (About to use Facebook)
- ABT2_uz_FNB! (About to use FNB online banking)
Use a password protector
There is also software (some free and paid) that you can download to store your different passwords securely. Before signing up for any of them, Google reviews and look for information about the software so that you can make sure it’s safe and legitimate.
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