How do I create a secure password and stay safe?

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Today we are going to talk about passwords.

In this article, I am going to answer a very simple question : “How do I create a secure password?”.

The question may be simple, but I can assure you that the answer is not. Luckily for you, you've found the right place to look for answers and I'm going to reveal the secrets of creating a foolproof password.

If you are already intrigued, let me tell you something else. By the time you have finished this article, you will be much better protected than 150 million people whose accounts were compromised last year.

Remember that nearly 20% of all malware attacks are aimed at hijacking accounts. That's just one reason why you need to know how to create a secure password. Statistics show that 240,731 passwords are stolen every day! Can you imagine? Nearly a quarter of a million passwords. Every day!

How safe are you feeling right now?

In order to make our accounts more difficult to crack, we need to talk about the

The biggest user mistakes

First of all, we consider that most of our accounts are disposable. This is normal, since most online users have a Hundreds of accounts linked to a single email address. And this number Doubles every five years.

More often than not, we chose a password that was easy to remember for some of our accounts. So it's easier to remember it, isn't it? That's mistake no. 1. By creating weak passwords for sites we think we'll only use infrequently, we're compromising our overall online security.

By using a weak password, you “open the door” for hackers and invite them in. Plus, it's very likely that what you consider to be “strong” passwords are actually weak passwords. Have you ever used any of the following as a password?

  • Your name. (Seriously? You don't need a hacker or malware to crack that).
  • The names of your friends or family members. Pet names too. - Of course, I also love my dog, but you can easily guess that, even without a professional on the other side.
  • Keyboard models - “123456” is at the top of most “worst passwords” lists. Followed by “qwerty” and others.
  • Your login details. If your username is, say, Stephen, your password doesn't have to be Stephen either.
  • Common words - There are too many to list, but let's just say that passwords like “password” or “admin” are not the best options. Also, avoid sports names, sports team names, or common names for your password.
  • Avoid using short passwords - The shorter your password is, the less time it takes someone to crack it. Seuls 30% Some users use passwords that contain more than six symbols.

If you're ready to stop using these types of passwords, see

What should a secure password look like

It should consist of letters with a different case, special symbols, and numbers. And it's considered smart to have it be longer than 6 characters - basically, as long as possible. In essence, this password should not have much to do with the examples I've just given you.

You should also consider creating different passwords for your accounts. It's hard work and you're likely to forget them easily. Still, statistics show that an average British citizen forgets about 49 passwords on average.

Of course, it's hard to remember more than a hundred passwords. So one of the ways to simplify things is to use a password manager (which will also include a secure password generator). It's a good option for users who care about their safety. Software of this type can create sophisticated passwords for your various accounts, and then store them in an encrypted manner. When using this type of software, you only need to remember one password.

A lot of people create a good password once and then use variations of it. It's also a pretty bad idea, because if one of your accounts is hijacked, the others can fall like dominoes.

It is also considered a security risk to write down passwords, especially on digital devices. If they are stolen or hacked, you can say goodbye to your accounts.

How do I create a secure password?

The best way to create a password that's hard to hack is to think of a phrase that you can easily remember and turn it into code (tip #1). This will prevent almost anyone from getting into your account. At the very least, it will significantly hamper the process.

Here is an example: I have a wife and two children. Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it?

Here is the transformation - Ihv1Wf&2Kds. By simply removing all the vowels after the “I” and turning some words into symbols, we were able to create a secure password. Of course, you can choose another phrase or phrase that works better for you and that will be easy to remember.

Here's another example to make sure we get it right. There is a phrase by Leo Tolstoy that I particularly like. She says, “If you want to be happy, be.”

We can turn it into IUW2b:) B.

If you choose such a password and want to use it across multiple accounts, be sure to personalize it for each account.

For example, if you want to use your skills in creating unique passwords for Netflix, you can change it to “IUW2b:) bn3TFL! x”.

Of course, these are just examples. You can change your password however you want, but try using different boxes, numbers, and special symbols. Be original and create a password that makes sense to you (and hopefully no one else), so it's easy to remember.

Remember that one of the most important things about passwords is to:

Try to be creative with your password

Remember that malware considers your password to be a “Mastermind” game. The more complex your password is, the longer it will take for malware or a hacker to crack it. Here I am talking about years and decades, not just hours.

Be that as it may, for your information, a computer can try 350 billion combinations per second. If you think your password is well protected, think again.

There is another small glitch that could mislead you into thinking that you have a good password. It will be easier to explain if we make up a story.

Here's the deal:

You have a date with a pretty girl/boy in a restaurant. For the purposes of the example, let's call the restaurant “Dating"*.

*Offtopic: I googled my first dozen name ideas to find one that isn't taken. So if you want to open a restaurant, “Dating” is available. Because not only do I want to help you create the best passwords, but you also get free business information. You are welcome:) My aim is to please.

Let's go back to the story. You are at the “Dating” with charming company. Everything is great, and finally, at some point, you come home. You can't fall asleep. So, like any normal person, you go to the Internet to pass the time. First, you're probably going to spend a bit of time on social media or checking your email. Finally, you find an interesting site to shop, browse, or do other things.

You now need to register on this new site and here is my advice no. 2: avoid involving emotions when creating a password! When you're looking for good password ideas, “Dating” or your date's name may top your list because you're emotionally involved in the evening's events. Even if you don't realize it. And it's a password that could: A) easily be forgotten over time, or B) easily hacked. It's one of the less obvious things to consider when creating a password.

Summary.

By the way, this is the right place to give you another safety tip. No site or institution will ever ask you for your password, whether by email or by phone. So if that happens to you, be sure it's a fraud.

Keep the following in mind: your passwords are your keys to the online world. Since we do almost everything online, they are very important. I think we answered the question “How do I create a secure password?” , so keep these tips in mind when creating new accounts. Also, remember to update your old passwords. Take care of yourself!

Interesting fact: the Japanese teacher Isao Echizen Warns us not to take selfies by showing the “Peace” sign with our fingers, as hackers might be able to replicate our fingerprints from the photos.

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Stephen MESNILDREY
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