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Creating Secure Passwords
Creating an easy to remember, secure password can be simple.Lots of password managers come with a password generator, or you can use a free online password generator.
Even better than a password is a passphrase.
What is a passphrase?
A passphrase is like a sentence, made up of 4 or more words. Unlike a traditional password, passphrases offer the best combination of memorability and security.
Some examples of passphrases could be:
- A personal memory: IceCreamOnTheBeach
- Your favorite song lyrics: GoodbyeYellowBrickRoad
- 4 random words: RedFenceDragonJump
A passphrase generator and more information on passphrases can be found here: https://www.useapassphrase.com/
Why use a Password Manager?
Because people tend to have multiple accounts, the temptation is to use the same password for every account (particularly if they have a favorite password that is easy to remember). This is a dangerous practice; should the password fall into the hands of another person, they now have access to all of the accounts "protected" by that password. The best practice is to have a unique strong password for each account.
Using a password manager will make your online life easier and more secure. You won't need to remember a unique, long, complex password for every one of your online accounts. Instead, the password manager remembers your passwords for you and quickly generates new, strong passwords so you'll never have to reuse any. The only password you'll need to remember is the "master" password to the password manager itself.
Password Manager Recommendations
For each unique account, we know it is best to have a unique password. All these passwords can be hard to remember! It is easiest to use a password manager: many have a free option that works great.
Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Internet Explorer all have built-in password managers. If you plan to use your passwords across devices, you may benefit from a password manager like one of these: