Password strength and choosing a strong password

Choosing a password is one of those things that absolutely everyone has to do eventually, although many passwords are not very strong due to selection and maintenance decisions. Regardless of whether the password is for a social media website, an online marketer, or just your email, all your passwords should be kept as securely as possible to protect your assets and identity.

Here are some methods to help make sure your passwords are strong:

* The ideal password size is between ten and fifteen characters. It’s usually short enough for you to remember it, but long enough to discourage a brute force attack (a common type of password cracking attempt).

* Avoid passwords that are very easily guessed due to their association with you. Your name and the names of any member of your family, for example, can be very easy passwords to crack. Extra passwords that are quickly guessed include pet names or important dates such as anniversaries and birthdays.

* Also avoid using passwords that are actual words that can be found in the dictionary. In fact, there are many programs that try to use every word in the dictionary as a password. These types of programs also often try to add random numbers to a given word (such as converting “kitty” to “kitty2”) or spelling words backwards, so these possibilities should not be used as passwords.

* The most secure passwords are usually alphanumeric combinations (sequences of numbers and letters) that are not made up of actual words, but are made up of syllables that you can easily remember mixed with numbers. Using a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters will also help ensure a strong password. Ideally, this combination can also be spoken, rather than a random string of letters and numbers, as the password that can be spoken will probably be easier for you to remember. For example, a password like “vgie38hA” is very strong but not very easy to remember, while “Soe6bam” can be repeated out loud and therefore much easier to remember.

* Passwords that contain obvious strings may take a little longer to crack, however they are by no means secure. “123456” or “abcdefg” are easily recognizable patterns that almost certainly everyone who tries to guess your password will try to guess your password, as are patterns based on keyboard layout like “qwerty” or “zaq1xsw2” the latter. example).

* Use a different password for each occasion. Unfortunately, choosing to use the exact same password for everything is common and highly insecure. Once the password is known to work for one use, it will be tested for all other applications. Using a different password each time prevents the loss of all security in the event that a password is compromised.

* Change your passwords frequently. The longer you keep exactly the same password, the greater the chance that it will be compromised. Altering your passwords every six months or so helps ensure that your passwords are safe even if they have already been discovered and have simply never been used.

* You may need to enter your password in case you do not remember it. If this is the case, do not leave the written copy of your password anywhere that is immediately obvious, such as your desk or your wallet. One option is to lock it up somewhere (like a filing cabinet, safe, or other secure container) so you have a key. Another possible method is to write the password on the edge of a page in a favorite book; however, avoid writing them on a marker placed in a book, as they are easy for an intruder to lose and find.

* Never give your password to anyone. The best password is one that you, and only you, know. No one else needs to know your password, not your spouse, family members, friends, or co-workers. Your system administrator doesn’t need to know your password, as that person should really be able to reset your password in an emergency anyway.