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How to Make a Strong & Secure Password

Passwords are the first line of defense for protecting your online accounts and sensitive information. However, many people use weak passwords that are easy for hackers to guess. Creating a strong, secure password takes a bit more thought, but is a crucial step to safeguard your data. This article provides tips and best practices for making passwords that will help keep your information secure.

Why Password Strength Matters

Hackers have access to sophisticated tools that can quickly guess weak passwords. Common passwords, dictionary words, names, dates, patterns like “qwerty”, and other easily guessed passwords can be cracked in seconds. Once a hacker gains access to one account with a weak password, they can try using the same password to access more valuable accounts and information.

Using strong, unique passwords is one of the simplest ways to improve your online security. The harder your passwords are to guess, the better protected you and your data will be.

Creating Strong Passwords

Follow these tips to create more secure passwords:

Use at Least 12 Characters

  • The longer your password, the harder it is to crack. Use at least 12 characters, but longer is better.

Mix Uppercase, Lowercase, Numbers, and Symbols

  • Using different types of characters makes passwords far more secure. Include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like !@#$%^&*().

Avoid Personal Info

  • Never base passwords on anything connected to you that could be discovered, like your name, birthday, address, pet’s name, etc.

Don’t Use Dictionary Words

  • Real words in any language are easy for password cracking software to guess. Always use random combinations of characters.

Use Different Passwords Everywhere

  • Having unique passwords for every account protects all your accounts if one password is compromised.

Consider Passphrases

  • Random word combinations with spaces can meet complexity rules while being easier to remember, like Correct Horse Battery Staple.

Password Manager Apps

To handle all these complex passwords, most security experts recommend using a dedicated password manager app like LastPass or 1Password. These tools:

  • Securely store all your passwords in one encrypted vault
  • Generate strong, random passwords for each account
  • Auto-fill passwords across devices

Password manager apps encourage using long, completely random passwords without the headache of trying to remember them all. They also analyze your existing passwords and alert you to weak, reused, or compromised ones.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

For important accounts like email, banking, and social media, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) when available. 2FA requires providing two forms of identity verification to access an account, such as:

  • A password and a one-time code texted to your phone
  • A password and a fingerprint scan

Even if a hacker guesses your password, they won’t be able to access your account without also bypassing the second authentication method. 2FA provides an critical additional layer of protection on top of using strong passwords.

Avoiding Common Password Mistakes

When creating your passwords, be sure to steer clear of these common mistakes that leave accounts vulnerable:

  • Reusing the same password – If one account is compromised, all accounts with that password are also exposed. Unique passwords prevent this threat.
  • Only changing one character – Incrementing a password from Password1 to Password2 is not enough to thwart guessing attempts.
  • Writing down passwords – Any written passwords could be discovered and used to access accounts. Password manager apps are a much more secure alternative for tracking passwords.
  • Using simple patterns – Sequences like “abcd123” or keyboard patterns like “qwerty” are easy for hackers to identify and guess.

Keeping Passwords Secure

Once you have strong, unique passwords created, be sure to keep them safe:

  • Never share your password over email, chat, phone support, or with friends/family
  • Double check web addresses for misspellings before entering login credentials
  • Never enter passwords on public Wi-Fi networks
  • Use secure networks at home with encryption like WPA2 enabled
  • Change passwords periodically, at least every 90 days for very sensitive accounts
  • Be on the lookout for breach notifications and immediately change any compromised passwords

Conclusion

Weak passwords continue to be a major security problem for both individuals and organizations. However, with some concerted effort, creating and managing strong, unique passwords for all your accounts is absolutely achievable.

The payoff of improved account security is well worth setting aside some time to clean up your password hygiene. Following the password best practices outlined above, leveraging a dedicated password manager app, and enabling two-factor authentication on important logins will go a long way to reducing your risk.

Stay vigilant in protecting your accounts and information from unauthorized access by making password security a priority. Your data and privacy are worth the small amount of extra effort.

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