In today's world of Internet accounts for banks, work, email, social networking, even the children's grades at school, more and more people find themselves selecting a password for log in accounts than ever before. All too often we are tempted to select an easy password thinking, 'that is good enough for me.' With a few simple guidelines it is easy to select a password that is not only memorable but far more secure than just entering a birth date or, worse yet, the word 'password.'
Avoid the obvious
The first thing to avoid when selecting a password is to avoid the obvious. It is shocking to hear how many people simply use the word password. Even more shocking is when people use the same thing for both the user name and password. Some computer systems offer a method to find user names currently registered. Passwords for those accounts are typically encrypted but if the user name is also used for the password then guessing becomes very easy.
Some other obvious passwords are birth dates and middle names. Although a stranger may have a difficult time finding that information (but not impossible) individuals close by could get that information much easier. In a cut-throat office environment or even pubic schools accounts are frequently logged in to by adversaries that are only out to sabotage the account holders reputation.
Do not share your passwords
This brings us to the second important thing about passwords, do not share them with anyone. Never get pulled in by someone saying, 'I want to share your account' no matter how close they are. Every person needs their own account for several reasons. If someone is removed from responsibility on an account it is much easier to just disable an account than it is to change the password and let everyone else know the new password. As a web developer, we see many times when an employee is terminated and attempts made to sabotage business systems by disgruntled ex-employees.
Frequently, school students are enamored with a new romantic interest and think it shows trust to give out their password to the new friend. What they do not realize is that when they break up (and really, how many couples in school break up? Most of them!) one mad partner can be anything from a small nuisance to a cause of injury or even suicide evidenced in the national news on nearly a daily basis.
Select passwords that are not real words
Finally, a good password should be something only the account owner would ever know. Random numbers and letters with varied upper and lower cases are highly effective, but can sometimes be hard to remember. Symbols can be included if the system allows, but not all systems allow anything more than letters and numbers.
Something resembling a word but not quite a word is both effective and easy to remember, especially if it is random and can only be known by one person with no chance of guessing. Assembling letters is easy with a little understanding of the English language. Most words start with consonants and certain letters usually follow others like 'u' after 'q', 'est', 'nks', etc. Adding numeric digits to the end just add little more security and are actually required by some systems.
The length of the password can vary and do so frequently. Creating a longer password is obviously more secure than a very short one.
A few examples of such manufactured words would be: Joinnije, Dsumedao, Oglocyllyzyz or Gyedjuibao61. With a little creativity these can be pronounced which would make them easier to remember any time you need them.
The next time you are required to select a password take a few extra moments to secure your confidential account, don't select an obvious password. Create a new word that has never existed but make sure it can be remembered by making it pronounceable. And finally, never share that password with anyone else. With more and more of our lives locked up in servers across the world wide web develop security savvy habits to protect that information.
For a free page that will create passwords like this for you, visit https://www.s-3d.com/password.maker.php
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