What is important?
Password should be easy to remember and hard to guess.
Passwords should NOT be based on personal information that is easily guessed.
Do NOT use unaltered words that can be found in a dictionary. Use unique passwords for different systems.
DO NOT use the same password for multiple accounts!
Tips for creating a strong password:
Use at least 12 characters that include upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols.
Use a phrase to help you remember.
Four score and seven years ago (from the Gettysburg Address) becomes 4SkoR&7yrs@go.
Symbols that are commonly allowed include:! “ # $ % & ‘ ( ) * + , - . / : ; < = > ? { \ } [ ^ ] _
Substitute numbers for letters. Examples: A-4, I-1, and E-3
You can also use a phrase or lyric and use the first letter of each word to create an easy to remember password. Use some of the substitution ideas from above to make it even harder to hack.
In day of old, when ships were bold just like the men who sailed them - Adam Ant
This would be ID0owSwBjltMwSt* and this password hit 1 trillion years on the How Secure Is My Password site.
You can say the whole phrase in your head while you type and it will still be a total mystery to anyone else. Easy and easy to remember!
Back to Top
Back to Cyber Security