Trudy Technology

Dear Trudy Technology,

I have a really hard time remembering my passwords so I try to keep them as simple as possible, but my son-in-law keeps telling me I’m just asking to have my identity stolen and has finally convinced me I need to do something about it. Can you help me understand what makes a “good” password?

Sincerely,

Forgetful in Freeland

 

Dear Forgetful,

This is an oh-so-common occurrence in the world that we live in today where we need passwords for everything! It’s nice to know your information is secure, but if you’re constantly forgetting your passwords, it makes life very difficult! Unfortunately, your son-in-law is correct. A strong password can be the difference between getting hacked or not. But what does that mean? What makes a strong password? Here’s a simple list that’s a good place to start:

  • Don’t use “password” as your password!
  • Use a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • Avoid common words and number sequences.
  • Don’t use the same password on more than one account.
  • Remember that longer passwords are more secure, so consider using a phrase or quote
  • Don’t use any personal information, including your name, birthday, dog’s name, etc.
  • If you need to write down your password to remember it, store it somewhere securely and be sure not to leave it by your computer.

Hope this helps!

Trudy