Strong passwords: How to create and use them

Strong passwords: How to create and use them

The passwords are the keys we use to access personal information that we've stored on our computer and in our online accounts.


What makes a strong password?


To an attacker, a strong password should appear to be a random string of characters. The following criteria can help our passwords do so:


Make it lengthy

Each character that we add to our password increases the protection that it provides many times over. 

The passwords should be 8 or more characters in length; 14 characters or longer is ideal.

Many systems also support use of the space bar in passwords, so we can create a phrase made of many words (a "pass phrase"). A pass phrase is often easier to remember than a simple password, as well as longer and harder to guess.

The greater variety of characters that we have in our password, the harder it is to guess. Other important specifics include:

Use words and phrases that are easy for US to remember, but difficult for others to guess.

The easiest way to remember our passwords and pass phrases is to write them down.

Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing wrong with writing passwords down, but they need to be adequately protected in order to remain secure and effective.

In general, passwords written on a piece of paper are more difficult to compromise across the Internet than a password manager, Web site, or other software-based storage tool, such as password managers.

E.g.:

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water = J&Jwuth2fapow

I spent too much at the fair last night =  Is2matfln

I like Cars = IL1k3c @ rs