We’ll help you create a strong password that’s definitely different from everyone else’s and that’s not on the most used passwords list. We know it’s tempting to use 12345, 1password, and iloveyou, but come on. You’re more creative than that. Here are six tips for creating better passwords. Let’s say you’re creating a Google account. In this case, you set your password to bakingcookies. While it seems like a good password from the outside, since it has nothing to do with Gmail or password1 or qwerty, it might have everything to do with you. If the word combination is common or easy to guess, it’s not going to keep your information safe from hackers determined to steal it. If you’re worried you’ll forget your long, random password, we have a couple tips for making it memorable. First, you can string together complex, unrelated words. While your bakingcookies password from before is easy to guess, something like credibleorangutanorchestra will be much harder for hackers to crack. Don’t forget to mix in some numbers, symbols, and capital letters. Our next trick takes a couple steps, but it will be worth it. First, come up with a sentence that you’ll remember. Then, generate a password out of it. You can use the first letter or two of each word of the sentence to generate a password that looks randomized to others but is still memorable to you. For example, your sentence might be, “I love to bake cookies with my grandma on Sundays.” This would help you remember your password: ILotoBaCowimyGronSu. The more you reuse your old passwords, the more likely it is that you’ll be hacked. Whenever you get that notification email that it’s time to change your password, change it to something new and move away from your old one. As long as you write it down in your handy notebook or use your password manager, you won’t need to worry about forgetting it. Password generators work by combining letters, numbers, and symbols together to create passwords that are nearly impossible to guess. If you don’t want the stress of coming up with your own password, you can’t go wrong using a generated password from a trusted program. You still need to use a different password for every site and account, even if it is randomly generated. The great thing about LastPass is it uses AES 256-bit encryption software, which is the same software many VPNs (virtual private networks) use to keep personal information from being stolen. This encryption software adds layers of extra security so that your passwords are kept safe. If you’re using a password manager, then you’ll only need to write down your master password, so you can use these methods together. Writing them on a sticky note that you’ll lose by next week isn’t a smart idea. But writing your passwords in a designated notebook that stays hidden in an important drawer or a home safe is a great way to go. 2. Grey Media Group, “National Password Day: How to Make Your Accounts Safer,” May 7, 2020. Accessed November 16, 2020.
