With constant ongoing news about personal and professional accounts being compromised, I thought it would be important to write about what to do and what not to do when creating a password (and even if you already know this, just a quick reminder! Also, don’t forget to pass this information to your children!).

Think you have a strong password? You may be a pro at creating passwords but just in case, here are some tips to consider:

Avoid!

• Using personal information (i.e. phone number, birth date, age, your name, pet’s name, etc.).
• Using a word that exists in the dictionary and common phrases.
• Common substitutions (e.g. “&” for “and”, “2” for the word “to”, “3” for the letter “E”).
• Writing down your password.
• Using a “save password” or “stay logged in” feature when logging into an account.

How are accounts compromised?

• Passwords that are weak can be guessed.
• Thieves use programs to figure out passwords.
• Shared computers leave an account vulnerable.

We suggest:

• Make your password at least eight or more characters long (the longer the password, the more difficult to crack).
• Find ways of randomizing numbers, letters, or symbols and make it memorable to you.
• Use a combination of lower and upper case letters.
• Update passwords regularly.
• Log out of accounts when you are done.

Are you ready to test your password making skills? You can check to see if a password is strong by testing it with Microsoft’s Password Checker. Just to be safe, don’t use an existing password or one that you plan on using.

Isaac Wong
Project Manager

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