Home Features Mastermind Videos About Advertise Blog Network Contact
   

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

Featured Ebook


ebook Famous Entrepreneurs - Modern Empire Builders


Featured Ebook

More Evan Carmichael
Have A Suggestion?

Sales Lessons From Starbucks And Dell

Simple and Secure Passwords



Simple and Secure Passwords
   

Passwords are the basic line of defense against unwanted intrusion into our personal lives and a safeguard for our personal information. They may protect something as simple as a private letter, or something as important as a social security number. It may be needed to access a computer at work, one at home, or allow you to turn off the security system to your business. Whatever it is protecting, you need to make sure it is effective, yet easy to remember.

If passwords are going to be effective, they need to be hard for someone to guess or break using a computer program. Numerous hacker programs are based on a common dictionary – and those of several different languages. Therefore, it is not a good idea to create passwords that mimic spoken language. Even writing them backwards gives you only minimal, at best, protection. And using things like your pets name, your favorite sports team, or the name of a family member, only makes it easier for someone to break into your system.

So, how do you create a password that is simple to remember, but will challenge those bent on breaking into your system?

To begin, let’s first consider some basic rules for effective passwords. They should be from 8 to 14 characters in length; should contain both lower- and upper-case letters; and should also contain numbers and special characters such as $, #, @, and %. While that may sound complicated, there are at least two different ways you can create an easy-to-remember password, that meets not only the rules for being an effective password, but also refrains from using standard language terms or personal, easy-to-guess things as well.

The first method is widely used but still requires a bit of memorization. It is referred to as a Mnemonic Phrase. In this case, you simply need to remember a short phrase – one that will be easy for you to remember – and use the first letter of each word in the phrase to create your password. So, for instance, using the phrase, “I have 5 kids, 2 Granddaughters, and 2 Grandsons.” as an example, you would get the password, “Ih5k2Ga2G”. This method requires a little thought while you type it out, but gives you everything you need with the possible exception of a special character. And that is easy enough to remedy by simply replacing one number with its corresponding character. For instance, using this example, you could substitute the first “2” with “@” giving you the password, “Ih5k@Ga2G”. An effective approach to building passwords, to be sure, but still requiring a little thought when trying to enter it.

Perhaps there is yet an easier approach – one that will create an effective deterrent against unwanted intrusion, yet is still easy to remember. This second method may just be the ticket.

This scheme simply uses any pattern you wish to use on your keyboard. Take a look at your keyboard for a moment. But instead of viewing the keys as going from left to right in four long rows, view them as having several columns, each with four keys, running diagonally upward and/or downward. For instance, 1-Q-A-Z would be a column, as would 2-W-S-X, 9-I-J-N, and N-J-I-9. Now, pick any key to start your password (this is what you need to remember – not the whole “word”) and simply go downward (or upward) in the column. Then move over to the next column, or perhaps skip one column, and use the keys in that one. Repeat this again and you have created your password.

Now you have a 12-character password and all you need remember is the starting key of the sequence. Once again, however, to ensure the password follows the rules mentioned above, simply press and hold the Shift key while pressing any one of the number keys, which changes the number to a special character; and also while pressing one or more of the letter keys (creating an upper-case entry).

As an example, if you started with the letter “C”, and using the suggested pattern above, moving in an upward angle to the left, you would get the password, “cde3Vfr$bgt5”. Or, if allowed to start a password with a number, then an even easier one would be “3edc$rfV5tgb” (downward motion to the right). And, again, the great thing about this one is that all you need remember is that you started with the “3” (or “c” in the previous example).

When it is time to change your password, simply start the same pattern in a different column or instead of going downward, go upward; or perhaps instead of moving towards the left, move towards the right. You pick the pattern and just follow the keys on the keyboard.

It is important to remember, that while no method may be 100% bulletproof, how effective it is will determine how well your personal information is guarded. The question is how do we create an effective, yet easy to remember, password.



Simple and Secure Passwords - To learn more about this author, visit Bob Unruh's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends
[Get Copyright Permissions] E-Mail | Print | More  


Related Articles Related Articles
Password Strategies That Keep You Safer
  Imagine getting an email with login information for something your never signed up for. Happens all the time with your Spam, right? But suppose you noticed a password in the email that you actually do use! I just ha...
Simple and Secure Passwords
  Passwords are the basic line of defense against unwanted intrusions. They need to be effective at preventing break-ins, yet easy to remember. Otherwise people tend to take the easy way out and use common names and...
Security in the Digital Age
  Hackers, phishers, worms, adware, spyware, and spammers are popping up at high-speed and wreak havoc on computer systems worldwide. Security breaches are both detrimental to customer relations and can be extreme...
Ask the Bargain-shopper: Easy steps to help you shop safely online
  Using the web for holiday shopping? Your friends at evalu8.org provide these tips to help you with a safe -- and simple -- shopping experience. . .
Cold Calling Techniques
  Here's a summary of book reviews from Amazon.com about "Cold Calling Techniques That Really Works" by Stephan Schiffman.

Related Forum Posts Related Forum Posts
Boosting Self Confidence Boosting Self Confidence
What makes you keep coming back for more? What makes you keep coming back for more?
Re: Get a Jingle! Re: Get a Jingle!
Re: WebStore by Amazon: Start selling in minutes Re: WebStore by Amazon: Start selling in minutes
wordpress alternative wordpress alternative
WebStore by Amazon: Start selling in minutes WebStore by Amazon: Start selling in minutes
Re: wordpress alternative Re: wordpress alternative
Aussie In Canada, Offering Internation Sims to U.S Customers Aussie In Canada, Offering Internation Sims to U.S Customers

 
About the Author


Bob Unruh
(Visit Bob's Website)
Bob Unruh, owner of the San Diego based Creative Computer Consultants ( www.ccconsul tants.biz ), has been providing technology consulting and solutions for businesses and individuals such as international book stores, accountants, ranchers, engineering firms, churches, and start-up home businesses all across the country, from the Southern California coast, up thru the Rocky Mountain States and into New York.
Have A Suggestion?

View Author's Blog
Become An Author

View Author's Video
Become An Author

Free Downloads


Bob Unruh's

Complete
List Of
Technology
Articles

First Name
Last Name
Email
 
If you enjoyed this article, get Bob Unruh's Complete List of Technology Articles For FREE!
Become An Author