Create Strong Password: Now the internet has changed the way we recognize the world around us. We see more, experience and learn more, appear arguably as the most complex breed of Homo Sapiens to walk on the earth. Surveying the nook and corners of the internet is quite straightforward. Just a need for a decent internet connection and a web browser to access the ever-expanding universe of the World Wide Web.
While accessing most websites without any problem, some need you to register with a special user-id/password combination. Also, these sites usually lead to premium content. Enable you to transact, or allow access to your bank records. Choosing a username isn’t that tough, but creating a new password that’d actually keep the hackers at gulf isn’t something that you can master innate.
As you already know, entring gibberish on your keyboard will lead to a strong password. However, remembering them, when you really need to, can be a bit of a challenge. So, we have decided to create a simple guide on password creation. So, without further ado, let’s take a look.
Why do we want a strong password?
Many bad people are always after our confidential information. From your bank details to your Netflix account, there’s no stopping the epidemic. A good username and a strong password, however, can go a long way in securing your account. Also, they make it almost impossible for hackers to break through with energy and good IQ. So, the next time when you are signing up for a sensitive service, pay close attention to the key you’re using.
What is considered a strong password?
While signing up on a new website, a prompt appears, which asks you to create a strong password. So, what can be considered as a strong password?
Usually, a strong password has these following traits:
- It’s long up to 8-14 characters
- It has at least one uppercase letter
- Also, it contains at least one number
- At least one special character (#, @, etc. )
- Isn’t easily guessable (like your pet’s name)
Always remember if your password meets the above criteria, it is indeed a “strong” password.
The Dos and Don’ts
In the above section, you’ve seen the traits of a strong password. However, even if your password checks all the boxes, then it might not be as secure as you really think.
For example, this password, “P@ssword123,” ticks all the right boxes, but still, it isn’t the most secure password you can create. The replacement numbers “123” is at the end, which considers being a very common password pattern. Swapping ‘A’ for ‘@’ is clever but is easily guessable. Also, the word “Password” is one of the most common passwords, ever. So, it’s might be a good idea to guide clear of that one.
Hopefully, there are other ways to create a strong password, which would be hard to crack. However, securing your account isn’t only about creating a strong password. There are also a few things you have to remember.
Dos
- Turn on 2FA (Two Factor Authentication): Major websites/apps support Two Factor Authentication. It needs the hacker to have access to your secondary login method, like your phone, your primary password to get into your account.
- Throw out the dictionary: Direct clear of using general words, names, or compounds of multiple, common words. Capitalizing, on the other hand, won’t be helpful if you still using common phrases or words.
- Use special symbols: Many websites also older Gmail don’t encourage you to use numbers, capitalization, or special characters. So, it’s quite easy to take things lightly and use a weak password.
While accessing a website that has access to premium content or confidential data. Remember always use symbols, numbers, and a good blend of upper and lower case letters. All these add up to increase the complexity of your password.
Don’ts
- Never re-use: Regenerating passwords may be quite easy on your brain. But it puts your accounts at great risk. If you want your data to say secured, then try to create new passwords.
- Encryption is your friend: If you are searching to shoot your passwords up to the cloud, remember to encrypt them. Else, if your cloud account gets compromised, all your passwords in that file also get exposed.
Tips for creating a memorable strong password
So far, you learned the importance of using a strong password and the things you should or shouldn’t do while creating one. Here are some tricks:
Method One: From a sentence
Step 1:
Firstly, take one of your favorite quotes or song lyrics. For example, if you love Breaking Bad, then remember Walter White’s famous “I am the one who knocks!”.
Step 2:
Then take the first letter from each word of your favorite sentence. It includes punctuations (symbols), too. So, “I am the one who knocks!” becomes “Iatowk!”
Step 3:
We also add numbers into the mix. For example, Breaking Bad was launched in 2008, which we can use in this scenario. However, always be careful not to resort to a familiar password pattern. So, besides putting the year at the end of the password, we break it down and attach them at either end.
Final password: “20Iatowk!08”
Method Two: Random Passphrases
You also try Random Passphrase to make your password more secure:
Step 1:
This method needs you to come up with a random passphrase or a string of random words. Either of “Ronaldo ducks out flying UFOs” or “Lost Time Chair Input Doctor School Car” would do. The major difference between passwords and passphrases is that the former doesn’t contain spaces.
Step 2:
After choosing your phrase, add a
Method Three: Person-Action-Object
The Person-Action-Object (PAO) method is another entertaining way of creating passwords or passphrases.
Step 1:
Choose a person, an object, and link those two using an action. For example, “Michael Jackson eating an airplane in Florida”.
Step 2:
Also, add numbers and symbols to the passphrase to finish or take few letters off each word and fuse them together to create a password. Example: “Michael Jacks0n e@ting an airplan3 in Florida” or “20MiJae@anaiinFl20”
The Practicality of Such Methods
Having gone through the three different methods, you might be already looking forward to changing your important passwords, exchanging them for stronger ones. However, besides knowing the usefulness of these methods, we must check whether they are practical for daily use.
Creating two, four, or seven unique passwords and remembering them isn’t too difficult. However, repeating the process, again and again, is bound to take a toll on your memory. Fortunately, there are also few workarounds, which might come in handy.
Mix it up
If you’re not searching to indulge your hard-earned money on a password manager, then move down a little less secure route and only bolster the services you deem to be sensitive. For example, you could use unique, strong passwords on your banking or shopping sites and keep a common password for other less important websites. Make sure to make the common password as strong as possible.
Conclusion:
Here’s how to Create a Strong Password. Is this guide helpful? Let us know in the comments section below!
Also Read: