What is the Best Way to Create and Remember Passwords?

It’s time to celebrate May 6th as National Password Day. 

Yes, it really is a thing. Intel created World Password Day to address how critical it is for all of us to have solid passwords. 

Do you have trouble with Passwords?

With numerous passwords we must remember, websites are now requiring unique passwords, making it even more difficult.  

Sorry, but those easy-to-remember passwords like 1234, 4321, and others are no longer safe with the sophistication of today’s hackers. 

CyberNews.com recently announced the ten most common passwords from the latest 2021 statistics: 

• 123456
• 123456789
• qwerty
• password
• 12345
• qwerty123
• 1q2w3e
• 12345678
• 111111
• 1234567890

It certainly seems as though we haven’t gotten any more creative or sophisticated with our passwords as the years have gone by, have we?

Read the article at Cyber News for more insight about the passwords we use. 

The problems with our passwords

One thing we’re advised not to do is use the same password for many different online accounts. Why? Because your exposure increases if any of those systems are hacked or compromised. When that happens, lists of email addresses and passwords are dumped from compromised platforms, sold on the dark web for attackers to use elsewhere. (thinkadnet.com) 

It’s not just the common or re-used passwords that are a problem, but also the length of our passwords.

Cyber News discovered that “most of the passwords used had 8 or fewer characters. That, combined with the probability that the passwords weren’t too complex – instead made up of easily guessed combinations – leads us to believe that the passwords from these databases weren’t up to standard.”  

The ideal passwords

Cyber News recommends that passwords consist of (1) a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols, such as punctuation, (2) doesn’t contain memorable keyboard paths, (3) is not based on your personal information, (4) is at least 12 characters long.

I read that an ideal password is to use a long, complete sentence, even nonsensical, with capital letters and punctuation. This could be suitable for social media sites like Facebook, where accounts seem to be easily hacked. 

How to remember passwords

With all the rules for the password requirements for each site, it can be confusing to remember what you used where. Especially since the recommendation is to have a password unique for each account you have. For a time, I used a standard address book to keep track of all my passwords for different websites!

There are password managers designed to generate smart passwords, organize and protect them across all sites and devices so you aren’t exposed to security threats. Many sites charge for the service, but Lifehack.org shares their 10 free ways to track all your passwords.

If you are an iPhone user, let your phone create strong passwords for many of your accounts when you sign up for services on websites and apps. It will also store passwords and fill them in for you automatically.

For additional security, always use the two-step verification services offered for accounts like Paypal and Google. Yes, it is a pain every time you sign in, but it’s worth it when it comes to your money and identity.  
 

You may not celebrate World Password Day with a crazy night playing the board game Password; however, it may be a necessary reminder to create better passwords, rather than using the name of your cousin’s Chihuahua.

Other observances on May 6th:
National Nurses Day
National Day of Prayer