"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
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
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
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. ~!@#$%^&*()_-+=)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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