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Simple and Secure Passwords

Written by: Bob Unruh

Article Overview: 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 words – all of which makes the life of a hacker all too easy. But how do you create a password that is both effective against intrusion yet easy to remember? It really is easier than you think.

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.

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Article Tags: social security number, special characters, unwanted intrusion, unwanted intrusion



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