How to create a strong and secure password

Are you worried about the security of your Internet accounts? If you are using a strong password, you should not do this. However, if you use a password that is easy to crack, you may get hacked and someone may even steal your identity.

In today’s world, having accounts on various applications and social networks has become a necessity, so the best way to protect yourself is to have a strong password that is not easy to guess. In this article, we will show you how to create a good and secure password.

How to create a good and secure password

You’ve probably heard of at least one person in your immediate circle who was hacked. If you are looking for a way to protect yourself and improve the security of your personal information, there are numerous guidelines you can follow to create a password that is not easy to crack.

Why do I need a strong password?

A strong password can protect you from hackers or anyone trying to access your computer and accounts. The stronger your password is, the more protected you will be. That’s why it’s essential to have strong passwords for all your accounts.

If you do not use a strong password, the consequences can be very serious. For example, your account could be hacked, someone could steal your credit card information, your money, or even your identity. By having a good password, you reduce the chances of someone taking over your accounts.

What makes a password secure?

A strong password is a combination of different characters, numbers and symbols. Nowadays, hackers use different tools that can easily crack common passwords. This is why you need to create a strong password that is not obvious and therefore not easy to crack.

Tips for creating good and secure passwords

If you want to ensure that your accounts and information are secure, you should create a strong password. It should consist of different elements that prevent hackers from gaining access to your accounts.

We have prepared several tips and tricks that you can use to create strong passwords for all your accounts.

make it long

The longer your password is, the more secure your account will be. A general rule of thumb is to create a password that is at least 12 characters long. Each additional character increases the chances of protecting your account from hackers or any malicious software. Of course, you can have a shorter password, but the security of your password will be compromised.

Make your password a meaningless phrase

Your password should not contain any obvious elements that are easy to crack. Try not to use anything generic in your password, like your birthday. It should contain something unique and should not make any sense to anyone but you. Additionally, you should avoid using common keyboard combinations (such as qwertyuiop or fghjkl).

Include numbers, symbols, uppercase and lowercase letters

Include combinations of different elements in your password. By adding numbers, symbols, uppercase and lowercase letters to your password, you increase its security and strength and prevent anyone from guessing it.

Avoid personal information

Although your date of birth, the name of your first pet, or your nickname as a password may be easy to remember, they make your password weak and easy to crack. You should not include personal information in your password. Just by looking at your online profiles or listening to a conversation between you and your friends, some could discover your password and gain access to your account.

keep it secret

In addition to not using personal information in your password, it is also important not to tell anyone about your password. Even if you fully trust someone, you never know who is listening to your conversations. Also, make sure you never text your password to anyone. If you are afraid of forgetting your password, write it down and save it in an encrypted file or in a place where no one can find it.

Change it regularly

Although there are different attitudes towards changing passwords regularly, most people agree that they should be changed once every two to three months. However, if you are sure that your password is safe and secure, you do not need to change it. In this case, just pay attention to possible red flags that would require you to change your password. Some of them are:

• A security breach: For example, if Facebook announces that they had a security breach and you have an account with them, you should change your password to be safe. If your account has been compromised, the company will contact you, but just in case, be sure to change your password.
  
• Suspected unauthorized access: If you believe someone has tried to access one of your accounts, change your password as soon as possible. It’s better to change it than wait until your security and accounts are compromised.
  
• Shared Access: Sharing accounts is common nowadays. You and your friend may be sharing a Netflix or Spotify account. If you have shared access to your account with someone you are no longer in contact with or trust, be sure to change your password.
• Logging in in public places: If you logged in to a computer in a public place, such as libraries, bookstores, etc., and forgot to log out, your security could be compromised. In this case, change your password immediately.
  
• Virus detected: If you have detected a virus or any malicious software on your computer, you should change your passwords as a precaution after removing the virus from your device.
  

Common password mistakes

Here are some common password mistakes you should always avoid:

• Use obvious passwords: Passwords like “123456789” or “qwertyuiop” are obvious and easy to guess. Although these passwords are easy to remember and type, they are widespread and not secure.
• Using personal passwords: Never use your personal information to create a password as they are easy to crack.
• Using dictionary word combinations: Using combinations like “red house” or “jeans” as a password is not secure enough. Since these combinations are common, they are not good enough for a strong password and should be avoided.
• Use the same password for each website: You must have different passwords for each website. This will increase your online security. If you use the same password across the board and someone cracks it, every account you have will be compromised. If creating a new password for each account seems complicated, try creating different variations of the same password or use a password manager.
• Stay logged in: Make sure you log out of your account every time and don’t let your browser save your passwords. If you stay logged in, everyone who has access to your device will be able to use your account and information.
• Giving your personal information to someone: Hackers will sometimes present themselves as your bank, for example, and ask you to email them your credit card or personal information. You should pay attention to these emails and never send your information in this way.

Examples of strong passwords

There are guidelines for creating a strong password: it should be long, random and contain different elements.

For example, you can type a random sentence and use the first letter of each word as your password. Check out this quote: “Jack has been in love with Jill since 2015!” Based on this phrase, your password may be: “JhbilwJs2015!” Here is a long password that combines upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols.

If you don’t feel creative enough to create a strong password, you can use password generators to find a strong password. Password generators are online tools that can help you keep your accounts secure. Once the generator offers you a strong password, it is recommended that you add a personal touch to enhance security.

Once you have created a password, you can use tools like How secure is my password? to check its strength. This program will calculate how long it would take a computer to crack your password.

Additional FAQs

Are password managers worth using?

Most people have accounts for multiple websites, apps, and programs. Since it is recommended to use a different password for each of your accounts, it is almost impossible to remember each and every one of them. That’s when a password manager comes in handy.

A good password manager will securely store and manage all of your passwords. You only need to create and remember a master password. How does it work? You enter all your passwords into the password manager and protect them with your master password. Then, whenever you want to visit a website that requires you to log in, simply enter the master password and the password manager will automatically fill in the rest.

Should you use a random password generator?

If you’re having trouble creating a strong password, you can use a password generator to help. This tool will generate a combination of different elements, thus improving the security of your password.

Although they can be useful, you should always add something else to your password to increase its security and strength.

Should I reuse my passwords?

No. Reusing your passwords for different accounts makes you vulnerable to hackers or others trying to access your accounts. If someone discovers that you are reusing passwords, they will have access to all your accounts, credit card information, etc., which can lead to identity theft.

How are passwords hacked?

Hackers use various programs and databases to help them gain access to a system. Most of the time, hackers will not attempt to hack into an inpidual’s account. Instead, they typically aim to break into popular services where they could gain access to thousands of accounts. They then cross-reference each username and password combination to see if they can log into a bank account or gain access to credit card information.

Additionally, if hackers know the email address of a person’s account, they can try the most common password combinations in an attempt to gain access.

Furthermore, hackers often break into different databases and send millions of emails posing as a bank or other service employee. They then ask for personal or credit card information or send you a link where you need to log in. Make sure you never open these links and submit your personal information.

Don’t risk it, protect yourself!

Now you have learned how to create a good and secure password. Nowadays, having numerous accounts is inevitable. Unfortunately, this can make you an easy target for hackers or anyone trying to access your information. If you want to make sure your data is safe and your accounts are protected, create a strong password for added peace of mind.

What are your tips for creating a strong password? Tell us in the comments section below.