Passwords

We know that creating a safe password is paramount, but how does one actually go about creating a memorable but strong password
"The Weakest Link" in online security is weak passwords. Over the years we have seen this many times. But it is possible to create a strong password that is also easy to remember

Following the tips mentioned in this article could make your passwords much harder to crack and will help with good password security. This is especially important for online banking and other financially sensitive websites. They have been successfully tried and tested by many users and we can strongly recommend them to you

The Anatomy of a Good Password

Here is how to come up with a strong password that you won’t end up forgetting 5 minutes later

Do not use short passwords

Use passwords that contain at least 10 characters. The more characters the password has, the longer it takes for a hacker to crack it

Make your passwords complex

They should include upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. The more the better

Create mnemonics

Create memorable phrases, They could relate to the Service you will be using them for. For example, if you sign up for a VPN service to avoid the risk of cyber-crime on public Wi-Fi networks, you could create a sentence like “I use a VPN to protect myself” and use it as a mnemonic for the password “iUvpnP1me$” It has all four types of characters, is complex, some what long and easy to remember

Use Pass Phrases

Although using dictionary words is not advisable (see the tips for avoiding weak passwords below), 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

Password Managers

Some passwords are difficult to remember. Especially if you have a different password for each Service you use. To help you organize your various login details You can use popular password managers such as
• Dashlane
• LastPass
• Myki
• LogMeOnce
• Symantec Norton Password Manager
• Avira Password Manager
• Bitwarden

Using a Password Generator

Warning: Never use a Password Generator from a website you do not know and trust. We have seen sites set up specifically 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 try the NordPass Random Password Generator. With this tool, you can create passwords ranging from 8 to 60 characters and use filters to add or avoid certain characters

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 good one. One of the passwords RSH Web Services created back in 1997 and is still in use today.
There are a few cases where it is a good idea. For example:
• You notice something suspicious on your PayPal account
• You suspect that someone you don’t trust has your password
• You notice something suspicious in your email account, website or other online accounts
• You have recently removed malware from your system
• PayPal asks you to change your password. (but confirm directly with PayPal it is them asking)

Avoid Weak Passwords

The following should never be used in your passwords, even as one of the several components
A user name or a part of the user name in your password
Names of friends, family members, pets and especially your own name
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”
Obvious substitutions, such as “myd0g”
Blank password

Summary

Creating a strong password is crucial, but it’s only the initial step towards better security. The way you manage your passwords later on is even more important. Usually, people know the key rules, but somehow they tend to ignore them. Let this list be a friendly reminder that will help you keep your private information safe and secure

From Google Creating a strong password and a more secure account

And just for fun What are the most funny passwords that you came across

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