My Tips for Creating a Good Password

Time to go right into the meat and potatoes of this subject so here we go.

1: Don’t use simple passwords.  I used to use a password that was very easy to remember such as names or phone numbers.  I have even caught people doing this very thing and have constantly reminded them that the easier a password is for you to remember, the easier it will be for someone to figure out.  The best thing to do is to create a complicated password that only you will remember.  Also, make sure to write it down or use a password manager like 1Password or keepass (keepassX if you are on a Mac).  This will make it easier for you to remember passwords and if you use a password manager, you can then copy and paste that password into the password field when you need to.  Also you can use that password manager to generate passwords.

2: Do not use a “universal” password.  This also makes it easier for people to figure out because once someone has figured out your password to one site, they will likely try to use that same password on different sites that you use.  The best advice is to use different passwords for all the different sites that you use.

3: Avoid creating simple answers to security questions.  As we all know, there are methods of accessing your account should you forget your password, usually in the form of security questions.  Remember, the easier you make the answer, the easier it will be for someone to figure out.  The nice thing is that you can put anything into that answer field when setting up your security questions, so what I like to do is make up a jumbled alphanumeric mess that I only know.

4: Change your passwords regularly.  The longer you keep a certain password means that it gives more time to the individual trying to figure out what it is.

I hope that this helps because I find this to be a serious issue that people need to be aware of.  No, I am not saying to be paranoid about it, but be more aware of what could possibly happen.  This is your life we are talking about anyway.

~Tony   www.tonyutter.net