Choosing a Password, Part 2

Yesterday, we looked at some of the most commonly hacked passwords and things a computer user should avoid when selecting a password. Given that one shouldn’t use real words, personal information, or easy-to-remember number combinations (i.e., 123456), how can you come up with something memorable and secure?

According to this article by Microsoft, you might want to try this strategy:

• Start with a sentence.

Complex passwords are safer.

• Remove the spaces between the words in the sentence.

Complexpasswordsaresafer.

• Turn the words into shorthand or intentionally misspell a word.

ComplekspasswordsRsafer.

• Add length with numbers. Put numbers that are meaningful to you after the sentence.

ComplekspasswordsRsafer2011.

Length is one of the keys to a strong password, with eight or more characters being preferable. Using the entire keyboard – numbers, letters, punctuation, symbols -- also can help by creating complexity through variety. (Note, though, that hacking software easily picks up conversions such as “&” for “and” and “2” for “to.”)

If you’re curious about the strength of your password, try out Microsoft’s password security checker, which will rank your choice on a scale of weak to strong. Beyond these safety measures, one of the best tips is to change your password regularly, especially if you think somebody might be on to it.

Image courtesy of Thinkstock Photos.