Creating a Strong Password

"The Weakest Link" is a weak password. We have seen this time and time again. We know that creating a strong password is paramount with todays Internet

How do you actually create a strong password that works well and is also easy to remember

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Unlike what you see on TV - When it comes to hacking or cracking passwords it is very hard for Hackers to actually crack a good password. On average can take a Hacking program running continuously years to crack
What is normally done is they will try to find a back door or find out information about you and use that to guess your password

Using the tips mentioned below will help with good password security. This can be especially important for online banking and any other sensitive website

Anatomy of a Good Password

Do not use Short Passwords

Passwords should contain at least 8 characters. The more characters the longer it takes for a hacker to crack or guess it. A strong password will be at least 12 characters

Make your Passwords Complex

Passwords should contain both upper and lowercase alphabetic characters (e.g. A-Z, a-z)
Have at least 1 numerical character (e.g. 0-9)
And have at least 1 special character (e.g. ~!@#$%^&*()_-+=)

A Password Should Not

Spell a word or series of words that can be found in any dictionary. Spell a word with only a number added to the beginning and the end. Be based on any personal information such as family name, a pet, any important dates, etc
A user name or a part of the user name in your password
Personal information about your family members or yourself
A sequence of consecutive letters, numbers or keyboard keys, such as “zxcv”, “12345”, “abcde”, etc
A dictionary word or a combination of words, such as “mydog”
Blank password

Change Default Account Passwords

Default accounts are often the source of unauthorized access by hackers. If possible they should be disabled completely. If the account cannot be disabled the default password should be changed immediately

Use Pass Phrases

Although using dictionary words is not advisable. Creating a combination of 5-6 random words is a good method to protect your account. Randomness is the key, though. The human brain is extremely bad at stringing together truly random words, so the Electronic Frontier Foundation Website provides a list of numbered words. You roll a traditional game dice, and the numbers that come up choose the words for you. A combination like “right zebra fashion ultramarine football work” is extremely difficult to guess because of its length and randomness, but fairly easy to remember

How often Should I Change my Password

Contrary to what every one says there is no good reason to change a password or PIN if it is a strong one. One of the passwords RSH Web Services created back in 1997 is still in use today
There are a few cases where it is a good idea:
• You notice something suspicious on your PayPal or Bank account
• You suspect that someone you do not trust or know has your password
• You notice something different in your email account, website or other online accounts
• You have recently removed malware from your system
• PayPal asks you to change your password AND you confirmed directly with PayPal it is them asking

Password Managers

To help you organize your various login details you can use popular password managers
• Symantec Norton Password Manager
• 1Password
• LastPass
• Dashlane
• LogMeOnce
• Myki
• Avira Password Manager
• Bitwarden

Using a Password Generator

Warning: Never use a Password Generator you do not know and trust. We have found many of these generators actually set up by hackers. What could be easier for them to get your password?

If your Host or your Website uses cPanel it has a built in Password Generator, Just log into your cPanel, then under "Preferences" > "Password & Security" you will find a "Password Generator" button
Or you can use the NordPass Random Password Generator. You can create passwords ranging from 8 to 60 characters and use filters to add or avoid certain characters

Conclusion

Creating a good password is crucial, but it is only the first step towards better security. The way you manage your passwords in the future is even more important. Most people know the key rules but somehow they tend to forget them

Let this article be a friendly reminder that will help you keep you safe and secure

Creating a strong password - From Google

Funny Passwords. Have a Laugh - but Never Use Them

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