How to Choose Passwords for Shopping Online

Keeping your personal and financial information safe requires you to choose passwords for shopping online that are safe and memorable. Since it is common knowledge that you should not use the same password for every thing--how can we remember?

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. If you want to choose a password for shopping online that's based on a number, you can alter the number. Say you live@ 1626 Main St. a six letter safe password could be a jumble of the numbers. How about:6126me or me6216? Then their is: stme1626.

2. If you interrupt in unusual places, this can work safely. JohnPrue could become: J****P or #1jpNY(#1 John Prue of New York). Remember when you choose a password for shopping online that it should be a unpredictable twist on a familiar concept.

3. Then you can always use the kids initials: bp12ny(BethPrue age 12 of New York).

4. Try using your hobby! If your a woodworker, how about using that in a password:(jpnyww )John Prue of New York, woodworker.

5. A very-high-quality password and one that's easy to remember, uses 8 letters/ numbers, randomly. List the states you've lived in (flvtmex1):Florida,Vermont,Maine-each once).

6. Keep a written record, not on your pc, each time you choose a password for shopping online. This will help you remember your passwords without storing sensitive information on your computer.

Tips & Warnings

• To make a password easy to remember, you can BASE IT on something familiar .
• Good passwords can be created by using randomness or what appears to be randomness, by making your password a combination of unrelated words, places or people.
• Keep these passwords to each specific site private and secret. They should stay hidden only if you have a "senior moment" and are clueless.

[ursaminor]

on 12/7/2008 Interesting and useful article. My passwords probably aren't as safe as any of these suggestions; guess I'd better go overhaul the whole bunch! Thanks for an eye-opener! 5 stars.