The first Thursday of May is observed as World Password Day. This year it falls on May 5. The day is a a global celebration to promote better password habits. Passwords are the critical gatekeepers to our digital existence and it is very important to make sure your passwords are strong.
Here are seven ways to fortify your passwords:
The recommended minimum is eight characters, but 14 is better and 25 is even better than that. Some services have character limits on passwords, though.
Use combinations of letters and numbers, upper and lower case and symbols such as the exclamation mark. Some services won't let you do all of that, but try to vary it as much as you can. "PaSsWoRd!43" is far better than "password43."
Avoid words that are in dictionaries, even if you add numbers and symbols. There are programs that can crack passwords by going through databases of known words. One trick is to add numbers in the middle of a word - as in "pas123swor456d" instead of "password123456." Another is to think of a sentence and use just the first letter of each word - as in "tqbfjotld" for "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."
Substitute characters. For instance, use the number zero instead of the letter O, or replace the S with a dollar sign.
Avoid easy-to-guess words, even if they aren't in the dictionary. You shouldn't use your name, company name or hometown, for instance. Avoid pets and relatives' names, too. Likewise, avoid things that can be looked up, such as your birthday or ZIP code. But you might use that as part of a complex password. Try reversing your ZIP code or phone number and insert that into a string of letters. As a reminder, you should also avoid "password" as the password, or consecutive keys on the keyboard, such as "1234" or "qwerty."
Never reuse passwords on other accounts - with two exceptions. Over the years, I've managed to create hundreds of accounts. Many are for one-time use, such as when a newspaper website requires me to register to read the full story. It's OK to use simple passwords and repeat them in those types of situations, as long as the password isn't unlocking features that involve credit cards or posting on a message board. That will let you focus on keeping passwords to the more essential accounts strong.
The other exception is to log in using a centralised sign-on service such as Facebook Connect. Many websites give you the option of using your Facebook username and password instead of creating a separate one for the video site. This technically isn't reusing your password, but a matter of the website borrowing the log-in system Facebook already has in place. The account information isn't stored with the website. Facebook merely tells that website's computers that it's you. Of course, if you do this, it's even more important to keep your Facebook password secure.
Some services such as Gmail even give you the option of using two passwords when you use a particular computer or device for the first time. If you have that feature turned on, the service will send a text message with a six-digit code to your phone when you try to use Gmail from an unrecognized device. You'll need to enter that for access, and then the code expires. It's optional, and it's a pain - but it could save you from grief later on. Hackers won't be able to access the account without possessing your phone. Turn it on by going to the account's security settings.