How to Choose a Good Computer Password

Whether it's for e-mail or for online banking, a good password should be easy to remember and difficult to figure out.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Use numbers as well as letters. If possible, use symbols such as $ and *.

2. Randomly capitalize letters if the password is case-sensitive.

3. Use as many characters as possible, with a minimum of six.

4. Choose a string of characters that can be typed quickly without looking at the keyboard.

5. Avoid using your username, personal name, the personal names of friends or family members, your birthday or other things that people may know about you.

6. Avoid using an actual word from any language. If someone is serious about cracking your password, he or she can run dictionaries from multiple languages against your account. Also avoid slang and technical jargon. The word 'password' is an obvious no-no.

7. Find an easy way to remember your password. Avoid writing it down.

8. Change your password every three to six months, especially if your account gives you access to restricted information.

9. If you have different accounts, it's wise to use a different password for each one, as long as you can remember them.

Tips & Warnings

• Acronyms for a phrase work well because they're easy to remember. (For example, 'EGBDF' for 'Every good boy does fine,' also the sequence of lines in the treble clef.)
• For an even better password, add a number or symbol some-where in the acronym. (For exam-ple,'MMNIS3' for 'My mother's name is Susan,' followed by the random number 3.)
• If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you must have unobstructed access to the south to use a satellite dish.
• Regardless of whether you select your telephone company to be your ISP, you will be dependent on it for DSL service.
• Satellite requires a phone line for uploads.

on 11/22/2005 For sites that can have financial consequences, use passwords that are changed frequently in accordance with standard guidelines. For all other sites, like games, newspapers or whatever, use one username and one password (same one) for all. It doesn't matter if they are stolen. Never change them.

on 11/22/2005 If you have something like a serial number from a military school or off the back of an organizer or something, you can use a play off that, like use the letters below the numbers as a code. Then a dictionary attack can't work.

on 11/22/2005 The best password is one containing letters, numbers, symbols, and spaces. The password should be at least 12 characters. This will make Unix, Linux and Windows passwords almost impossible to crack.