Scribd
Upload
103 views2 pages

How To Create A Strong Password

Your password is the first line of defense against data theft. The document provides tips for creating a secure password that is at least 12 characters long, includes numbers, symbols, and mixed-case letters. It recommends against using dictionary words, dates, or other personal information. The document also stresses the importance of keeping systems updated, using antivirus software, avoiding suspicious emails, and being aware of shoulder surfing. Password managers can help generate and store strong, unique passwords for each account.

Uploaded by

Daniel Boyd
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
103 views2 pages

How To Create A Strong Password

Your password is the first line of defense against data theft. The document provides tips for creating a secure password that is at least 12 characters long, includes numbers, symbols, and mixed-case letters. It recommends against using dictionary words, dates, or other personal information. The document also stresses the importance of keeping systems updated, using antivirus software, avoiding suspicious emails, and being aware of shoulder surfing. Password managers can help generate and store strong, unique passwords for each account.

Uploaded by

Daniel Boyd
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Secure your computer; protect your data

Your password is often the first line of defense from would-be data thieves attempting to steal
or corrupt your data. Here are a few tips and tricks to ensure your password is secure enough to prevent
these crimes.

 Your password should have 12 characters at minimum


o These should include: numbers, symbols, capital and lowercase letters
 Avoid using single dictionary words or common words (i.e. cookie, house, dog, cat, etc.)
o Instead, try using the words together, (HouseDog, CookieCat, etc.)
 Mix up the requirements
o It is common to read the requirements for a password, and note that it states
“password must include an uppercase letter, a symbol, and a number,” and use the
requirements in order such as: CookieCat$123
o This makes the password easy to guess using password-cracking software. Instead, mix
the order up: $C0oki3C@t21
 Make the password complex, but not too complex to remember
o A good recommendation is to take a sentence or two, and turn it in to a mnemonic.
 “My first house was at 42 Lakeview Ave. It had two floors!” becomes
“M1hwa42la.Ih2f!”
 The above example was tested at “howsecureismypassword.net” and was
estimated to take 429 billion years to crack.
 Avoid using “simple” passwords. Examples include:
o password
o 123456
o qwerty
o 111111
 Avoid using information that could be found on your social media, this includes:
o Date of birth
o Spouse’s/children’s/pets’ names
o City or town you live in
o School/year of graduation
 Do not use the same password for multiple locations
o For example, do not use the same password for your Yahoo! e-mail that you would use
to login to your online banking account. If the Yahoo! account is compromised, the
attacker could easily access your online banking information using the same password.

In addition to password strength, there are several other methods of security to keep in mind.

1. Keeping your computer up-to-date ensures that the latest security patches are also installed.
This makes it difficult for thieves to break in.
2. Ensure you have an active and up-to-date anti-virus and anti-malware program.
3. Do not open e-mails or attachments without first verifying with the sender, especially e-mails
that ask you to provide your username and password or other personal details.
4. Be aware of your surroundings. There may be someone looking over your shoulder as you type
in your password, attempting to retrieve it.
5. Finally, there are password generators and password manager software available that can help
you create very strong passwords, and also store them securely. SplashID being one of the more
popular options.

You might also like