Passwords are one of the most basic front line defenses in protecting your computer and your online identity. Many websites that you access today require you to signup and create a password. The more online services you use, the more passwords you acquire. It will eventually get to a point where you have so many passwords that becomes very difficult to remember them all. In this post I am going to give you some tips to help you create secure passwords and ease the pain in managing them.
Now, I know a lot of people just use the same password for everything, and usually it isn’t a very good one. Here are some things to avoid when making a new password.
- Do not use the same password for multiple accounts.
- Do not use a password that contains personal information (name, birthdate, SSN, etc.)
- Do not use dictionary words or acronyms.
- Do not use keyboard patterns (qwerty) or sequential numbers (12345)
Here are some guidelines to remember when creating a new secure password:
- Mix uppercase and lowercase letters.
- Include special characters (!@$) and numbers.
- Create long password (mine are usually at least 12 characters long)
- To help with memorization, you can use your own acronyms, phonetic devices, and characters that look like other letters. (ie. “HopeToWin” could be made into “H0P32W!n”
Before we get onto password management here are a few more basics to understand when it comes to keeping your password safe:
- Do not write your password down on paper.
- Do not email your passwords.
- NEVER tell your password to anyone.
- Make an attempt to change your passwords every so often.
- Be cautious when entering your password online. With both your physical surroundings (peeping eyes) and the online environment (check that the website has secure connections and be wary when providing a password to another online service that wants to use it ie. Mint)
Now on to my story. I use a password manager from AgileBits called 1Password. I can honestly say that it is the most useful piece of software that I have ever purchased. They started out as only a Mac app but have now gone cross platform to Mac, iPhone, iPad, Windows, and Android. With 1password I have one (very secure) Master Password which locks the encrypted data file. Inside the data file are all your passwords (I have about 500 now). 1Password has a great random password generator built in with several options to help you generate a password that suits you. 1Password can also sync between your devices so your passwords are accessible to you wether you are on your personal computer, at work, or on vacation. Another great thing is that it can secure other data such as software licenses, credit cards, drivers license numbers, notes, etc. 1Password also not only keeps your passwords safe for you but also makes with easy to use them online with the form filler plugin that is included for your web browser.
I would highly recommend 1Password to anyone who has trouble remembering all of their passwords. Click the button below to check it out!
