Choosing A Password

There are some helpful tips to create a strog password:

Many sites require you to create a password in order to access certain pages. Some examples are forums, web-based Email, online banking, online shopping, among others. It is important to have a secure password; here are some tips to help you when you need to create one:

1. Don’t use passwords that consist of easily accessible personal information, such as address, phone number, or date of birth.

2. Make your passwords at least six characters and a combination of numbers and letters. They should also include both capital and lowercase letters.

3. Avoid using words that can be found in a dictionary.

4. Don’t use the same passwords for multiple sites. Reusing passwords, although tempting, is a security risk. We have found that when a hacker gets a hold of a password, they will try to use it on hundreds of other sites to try to access your personal information.

5. Don’t give your password out to anyone.

6. Change your passwords frequently

7. It is becoming increasingly common to use “pass phrases.” A pass phrase is simply a password consisting of two or more words. For example, “my dog has green eyes” could be used for a password (technically, it is a pass phrase). To further increase security, capital letters, lowercase letters, and numbers should be used.

If you find yourself having trouble remembering passwords, there are programs available that will securely store them for you. Many of these programs are free. KeePass is an excellent Open Source (free) password-storing utility.