3 Easy Tips For Creating Secure Passwords

By Susan Stilwell –

Passwords can be a pain. Since we have so many of them and they’re easy to forget, we tend to find one we like (and can remember!) and use it for multiple accounts. While that’s good for our forgetfulness, it’s bad for our security.

The most obvious tip is to give each account its own password. Some not-so-obvious tips will further improve your security and help protect you from hackers.

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Avoid names and birthdays

Since we’re not likely to forget that information, it’s often our first choice. I can’t tell you how long I used susan0810 as a password, but that information is easily found online and is one of the first things a hacker tries.

Beware of using numbers as letters

5u5an5ti1w311 would be easy for me to remember, but hackers have honed their software to try those options. Consider a “pass phrase” such as, 5u5anlovesthebeach#08. It’s a good mix of letters and numbers and includes a special character. Remember: the longer the password, the harder it is to hack.

Change your password often

Every 90 days is a good rule of thumb, and you might use the change of seasons as a reminder.

I’ve found it helpful to keep a notebook with my passwords. It’s tempting to store them in a document on your computer, but the safest place is on a piece of paper stored somewhere in your house.

Just don’t forget where you keep it.

 

When Susan left her job as a computer analyst to stay home with her two toddlers, she figured she’d used her technical knowledge for the last time. Twenty years later, she’s pairing that knowledge with wit and humor as she explains technical concepts in easy-to-understand terms. She also has experience with a variety of social media platforms, which makes her a welcome contributor to the LivingBetterat50+ team. A seasoned Bible teacher, speaker, and devotional writer, Susan shares her insights on her inspirational site, www.susanstilwell.com.

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3 Easy Tips For Creating Secure Passwords
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