Creating a Password

Diana Johnson, Wood Networks www.woodnetworks.com

We need passwords in so many sites and levels of security within our companies.  In a perfect world each place you need a login should have an unique password. The world isn’t perfect though is it? In some cases you it is imperative that you have an unique password- bank accounts, credit card logins, PayPal and other payment authorization companies, confidential company logins, and your computer login. Other places perhaps you can use a common password you use at several sites- like sites you visit, but you do not purchase from.

As posted before a password should be at least 8 characters with lower and upper case letters and at least 1 symbol. 

Here is a simple method:

1.       Start is by coming up with a phrase you can remember.  Example- “all dogs like dog food”

2.       Now take out all the spaces. Example- “alldogslikedogfood”

3.       Next make at least 1 letter an uppercase letter.  Example- “allDogslikeDogfood”

4.       Lastly switch out at least 1 letter for a look-a-like symbol. Example- “@llD0gslikeD0gf00d”

Tada! You now have a password that will take a hackers computer over 463 years to crack!

Final note: Never use your personal information in your password. If you do all bets are off on hackers cracking it.  There is a lot data about you out on the Internet and if a hacker is serious about getting into your computer or financial records, they are going to research you, and it isn’t that hard to do. Also do not ever write your passwords down and leave it at your desk or in your wallet. When you do that you are literally handing your password to anyone with physical contact with you. While that probably won’t be a professional hacker, it could be a disgruntled employee.