How to Create Strong and Secure Passwords
Keeping your password secret is one of the most important things you can do for information security to protect your computer against security breaches.
The first step in information security is to create a strong password that is not easy to guess or infer. Tips for creating strong passwords, including the following: Do not use personal information for your password.
Social security number, driver's license number, phone number, birth date, spouse's name, and the name of a pet all the factual information that can be found by others. You can use random password generator and calculator to create a secure password.
Do not use words in the dictionary, including words in foreign languages. Dictionary attacks try words and combinations of them.
Do not use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols that have meaning to you so that you – but no one else – will be able to easily remember the password. Do choose a password that you can type quickly, to minimize the chances of someone finding it to watch over your shoulder as you type.
After you create a strong password, you must keep it safe. Tips for keeping passwords safe in information security include the following: Never share your password with others. Do not write your password. This is the reason why you need to create a password that is easy for you to remember. If you ignore this advice and write it down, keep the written copy in a locked container off-site.
Do change your passwords regularly, even if your network policies do not require you to do so. Do not use the same password for multiple purposes. For example, some people may use the same number combination for ATM PIN, network logon password, the password e-mailed them, and to all the Web sites are protected. If a password is cracked in hacking computers, all of your accounts and activities will be compromised.