Passwords are an important part of keeping our online accounts secure. However, many people struggle to create passwords that are both strong and easy to remember. In this article, I will provide tips for creating better passwords.
How Passwords Get Hacked
Before diving into password creation strategies, it’s important to understand why strong passwords matter in the first place. There are a few main ways that hackers try to guess passwords:
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Brute force attacks – Hackers use software to systematically check all possible password combinations. Stronger passwords take longer to crack.
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Dictionary attacks – Hackers use lists of common words and passwords that people often use. Unique passwords avoid these lists.
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Social engineering – Hackers gather personal info about you and try passwords based on that. Avoiding personal info in passwords limits this.
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Phishing – Hackers try to trick you into revealing your passwords. Staying vigilant avoids this.
How to Create a Strong Password
To make passwords difficult to hack, there are some key principles to follow:
Length
- Use 12+ characters – Longer passwords require more guesses to crack.
Complexity
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Use upper and lowercase letters – Mixing cases adds complexity.
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Include numbers and symbols – This expands the potential combinations.
Unpredictability
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Avoid dictionary words – Common words are easy to guess.
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Don’t use personal info – Names, dates, pets, etc. can be easy to find out.
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Avoid keyboard patterns – Sequences like “123456” are obvious guesses.
Tips for Remembering Complex Passwords
The downside of complex, random passwords is that they can be impossible to remember. Here are some tips for keeping strong passwords memorized:
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Use passphrases – Combining multiple words with spaces and symbols can aid memorization. For example: cat&mouse7
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Make mnemonics – Relate password elements to something personally meaningful. For example: J4zzM0n! for a jazz fan whose favorite number is 4.
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Apply consistency – Having predictable patterns, like starting every password with an uppercase letter or ending with a symbol, can help them stick in your head.
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Use muscle memory – Typing the same password often can help cement it in your fingers.
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Store hints (securely) – Writing down non-obvious reminder hints can jog your memory if needed. For example: “fave food – brown butter sauce”.
Password Managers
An alternative approach is using a password manager app or service. These allow you to generate extremely complex passwords that you won’t have to actually remember. The master password for your manager then becomes the most important one to memorize or store securely. Leading managers include LastPass, 1Password, and Keeper.
Regularly Change Passwords
It’s also good practice to change your important passwords every 6-12 months. This limits the damage if any given password is eventually compromised. Don’t make minor tweaks that could be predictable. Instead, fully create fresh new passwords.
Conclusion
Creating and remembering strong passwords takes effort but is extremely worthwhile for protecting your online security. The key principles are length, complexity, and unpredictability. Mnemonics, consistency, muscle memory, and secure hints can aid memorization. Regularly changing passwords also limits risk. With some diligence, strong passwords can become a good habit.
