How to Create Better Password Security

A strong password helps keep your information – and money – secure. When your passwords are weak, you put yourself at risk for identity theft, credit/debit card fraud and a whole slew of other un-fun consequences. 

  

So what should you do, exactly, when trying to come up with a stellar password that will be hard to crack? We spoke to a few experts at The Computer Guyz to get their top tips for creating an airtight password. 

  

#1 – The bigger, the better   

For a while, 6-8 characters were considered to be enough. Now, there is a recommended length of upwards of 12-14 character passwords to ensure better security.  

Shorter, simpler passwords are easier to figure out – especially by hackers who have the technology to do so. But when a password is long and complicated, that same hacker (or software) will move on to the next.   

#2 – Skip the obvious   

Weak passwords like “12345” and “password” continue to be the most common – and pose the biggest threat for users.  

  

Also things like your name, birthday, spouse’s name, dog’s name, or anything else that are easy to uncover via social media should not be part of your password. This tip is especially critical when it comes to your bank account password! 

Don’t risk it: Take a few extra minutes when creating your passwords and come up with something unique. 

   

#3 – Think sentences, not words   

Many of the experts we spoke to stressed that creating a pass-phrase rather than a pass-word is a smart way to increase complexity.  

For example, “summertimeandthelivingiseasy” is better than, say, “summer1.”  Try to mix numbers, capital letters and characters into your sentence to make it even better. Now it becomes “$ummerT1meAndTheLivingIsEasy.”

It’s a creative way to ensure your password will be unique and complex.   

#4 – Utilize the space bar   

When creating a passphrase, don’t forget about the spacebar! This keystroke is often overlooked by password cracking tools and can help make your passphrase more complex. 

  

How about something like: “My favourite food is fish and chips.” This works well because the phrase uses mixed casing and special characters – plus it’s easy to memorize.  

#5 – Don’t neglect your email password   

When many think about password security, they picture things like bank accounts, credit cards and other pieces of delicate information. Email passwords, however, are often overlooked. But access to this account can be destructive.   

Because your email is a gateway to password resetting, locking in a secure phrase and changing it up on the regular essentially works as an extra level of protection for all your other accounts.   

#6 – Switch it up   

When all your passwords are the same, you’re essentially giving hackers a universal key into your life. Experts recommend changing your password every 60-90 days. However, changing your password often but neglecting to make each iteration complex enough could be just as bad as never changing it.   

Password reuse is one the easiest ways to get hacked, yet even the most tech savvy users are guilty of this!

Don’t be lazy! Vary your passwords across your accounts and never repeat those you’ve already used.

     

Creating a better, safer password is easy once you crack the code. In fact, following just a few, basic guidelines can help keep the attacks at bay. If you’re interested in stepping up your security even further, contact The Computer Guyz in Cape Town or Centurion.