A secure password is one of the most important things you can have for your online accounts. It can be the difference between having your identity stolen and keeping your personal information safe. In this article, we’ll discuss why a secure password is so important and how to get one. We’ll also provide tips on creating a strong password that is difficult to guess. Follow these steps and you will be able to create a password that is both safe and easy to remember!
Why is a Secure Password Important?
A secure password is important because it helps to protect your accounts from being hacked. If someone were to guess your password, they would gain access to all of your personal information. This could include your email, social media accounts, and even your bank account. A hacker could then use this information to steal your identity or commit fraud. By creating a strong password, you can help to prevent these types of attacks.
How to Create a Secure Password
There are a few steps you can take to create a secure password:
- Mix letters, numbers, and special characters
- Do not use easily guessed words like “password” or “123456”
- Make sure your password is at least eight characters
- Avoid common substitutions like 3 in place of E
- Don’t reuse your passwords (while convenient, it’s not smart)
- Use a password manager
- Don’t share your passwords
- Use a phrase and incorporate shortcut codes or acronyms
- Use passwords with common elements, but customized to specific sites
- Use commonly allowed symbols
How does a password get hacked?
A brute force attack uses a computer program to guess millions of password combinations until it finds the right one. A dictionary attack runs a program that automatically goes through every word in the dictionary until it finds the right password.
Phishing attacks (like spam emails or texts) trick you into giving out your password by pretending to be a legitimate website or company. Social engineering gains your trust and then asks for your password under false pretenses.
The best password methods
The revised passphrase method is a series of random words that are strung together to create a password. For example, you could use the phrase “correct horse battery staple” to create the password “c0rrecthorsebatterystaple”. This method is both strong and easy to remember!
The Diceware method involves rolling a die to generate random numbers which are then used to look up letters in a list. This creates a completely random password that is very difficult to guess. However, it can be hard to remember so you may want to write it down or store it in a secure location such as a password manager.
A good password example:
jfB]mzPXVYp
The sentence method involves creating a sentence and using the first letter of each word to create your password. For example, the phrase “I like to eat cake” could become the password “ILtEC”. This method is both strong and easy to remember!
The character substitution method substitutes common characters for others that are similar in appearance. For example, you could replace the letter “o” with the number “0”, or the letter “i” with the exclamation point “!”. This creates a password that is both strong and easy to remember.
A good password example:
iL0vEcaK35!
Recommended Ways To Improve Your Password Portfolio
Two-factor authentication (also known as “two-step verification”) is an additional layer of security that requires you to confirm your identity before being granted access to an account. This usually involves entering both your password and a code that is sent to your mobile device. Two-factor authentication can prevent hackers from gaining access to your accounts even if they know your password.
What Is Multi-Factor Authentication?
What Is An Authenticator Smartphone App?
An authenticator smartphone app is a software program that helps you to store and manage your passwords. Used in conjunction with a random password generator, which is a tool that creates random, strong passwords for you, an authenticator app can help you to create and manage a portfolio of strong, unique passwords.
How often should I change my passwords?
You should change your passwords regularly, especially if you suspect that they may have been compromised. By changing your passwords, you can help to keep your accounts safe and secure.
p@55w0rd!
ILtECjfB]mzPXVYp
p@55w0rd!
What are security keys and the FIDO Alliance?
Security keys are physical devices that you can use to verify your identity when logging into an account. They usually take the form of a USB key or a card that you insert into a reader. The FIDO Alliance is an industry group that promotes the use of security keys as a way to improve online security.
Change Your Passwords Regularly
A strong password is an important part of keeping your online accounts safe and secure. By following the guidelines in this article, you can create a password that is both strong and easy to remember. You can also use a password manager and a random password generator to help you create and manage a portfolio of unique passwords.
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