How to create (and remember) strong passwords

- NEVER use passwords that contain easily knowable things like birthdates, children's names, spouses name, your zip code etc.

- Some basic rules for passwords:

• Passwords are always case sensitive


• Passwords must be at least six characters and ideally, longer than eight characters.


• Passwords should not be words found in the dictionary.


• Passwords should use a mix of UPPER and lower case letters.


• Passwords should include some symbols like $%@! and so on.


• Passwords should be changed on a schedule like when you turn the clocks forward and back, for example.


• Passwords should be different every place you use one.

- Remember, our goal is to pick passwords that you can remember but that aren't easy for others to guess or "crack."

- Draw from your own life experience because there are things in your life that no one else knows or relates to.

- Pick things that you remember like the name of your 8th grade teacher, your childhood sweetheart, famous people, those you admire and so on.

- Use song titles, dates with meaning to you, old classmates, cities you've wanted to visit

- Mix things up. CaPiTaL lEtTeRs and numbers and symbol$.

- You can use a password generator like the ones listed below. While they're secure, randomly generated passwords are difficult to remember.

- It's okay to write down your passwords and keep them in a file. Just keep the file secure.

Wikipedia
article on Password Strength

Microsoft article on password strength

You can check your password strength at Microsoft's Password Checker

• Advanced Password
  Generator


• Password Generator
  2004


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  Masking Password Generator Pro