Piedmont Triad Regional Council, NC

TIPS FOR CREATING PASSWORDS THAT ARE EASY TO REMEMBER AND DIFFICULT TO HACK

The internet has changed the way we work, live and play. Our lives are increasingly impacted by digital technology. It can simplify our lives and be entertaining, however it can also be intimidating and insecure. Creating strong, easy to remember but hard to hack passwords is an important first step to ensure your information is protected. While no password is completely un-hackable, here are some important tips to help make your passwords more secure. 

KEEP YOUR PASSWORDS PRIVATE

DON'T share your passwords. DON'T write your password down where someone else can see it. If you are logging onto a public computer, DO NOT save your password.

MAKING SECURE PASSWORDS

DON'T use personal information, such as your name, names of friends, family or pets. Also don't use dates such as birthdays or anniversaries. These are easy guesses for cyber-pirates.

MAKE IT LONG ENOUGH FOR SECURITY, BUT SHORT ENOUGH TO REMEMBER

The optimal password is 8-12 characters. It includes upper and lower case, numbers and special characters such as @ or #. 

TRY "PHRASING" YOUR PASSWORD

Phrases can be easier to remember and can create complex passwords.

One way to create a "phrase" password is to take the first letter or two from each word and use numbers and characters in the password.  It could be a line from a favorite movie or song, or a favorite quote. It can also help to remember the phrase by making it the answer to a question.

Example: What do I like to do? I enjoy going to the movies at the park.

PASSWORD: IeGO2mv@Pk

CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS

Update your passwords every couple of months. Change your password immediately if you think it might have been compromised. 

USE TWO-STEP AUTHENTICATION WHEN YOU CAN

An increasingly popular extra layer of security is two-step authentication. This usually will be an email or text sent to you that is time-sensitive. It will usually be a PIN or code that you will need to enter in order to access your account. 

DO NOT SAVE PASSWORDS WHEN USING A PUBLIC COMPUTER

Never save your password on any computer that you share with another individual. Make sure that you log out of your account and clear the browsing history before you leave.