Selecting passwords can be difficult because they are either easy to remember but insecure or secure but impossible to remember. Furthermore, if you use one password for everything and it is compromised, not only do you have to change all of your passwords, but a hacker may be able to gain access to your other accounts by guessing the stolen password. Luckily for you, there is an easy solution to this problem!
Dos:
Have different passwords for every company: This is achieved best by having a schematic for your passwords, so you will still be able to remember them. A popular way to do this is to use the first two letters of the company name followed by a constant password. Once you choose a schematic, stick to it, and use it consistently to avoid confusion.
For example: If the company is Apple and your constant password is Dogs4Days#21, your password for Apple would be ApDogs4Days#21. For Microsoft, it would be MiDogs4Days#21.
Use a mix of letters (lowercase and uppercase), numbers, and special characters: A strong mixture of all of these will ensure that your password is very secure. A strong password should use at least 1 of each (lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters). Additionally, you can replace letters/words with numbers to make it even more secure (for example: 4 instead of “for” or coo1 instead of “cool”).
Use at least 8 characters: The best way to make a password more secure is to make it longer. The longer it is, the harder it will be for someone to guess. Ideally, your password should be 12-15 characters because some companies require a minimum of 12 characters.
Set up 2-factor authentication: This will add another step to your login process, but it is well worth it. After entering your password, you will be prompted to enter a code. This code may be texted to you, told to you in an automated phone call, emailed to you, or be generated by an authenticator app (such as Google authenticator). No matter which method you chose, it will greatly increase the security of your account because even if your password is compromised, your account will remain secure. However, you should still change your password ASAP if it is stolen.
Don’ts:
Avoid personal information: Things such as your name, birthday, address, etc. are easy to guess, and, therefore, do not make good passwords (even if accompanied by numbers or other characters).
Avoid repeated numbers or consecutive numbers: Sequences like “111111” or “123456” are predictable and should not be in a password.
Don’t write your passwords down or, even worse, keep them in a non-secure document: Would you lock the door to your house but then leave the key on the front step? Most people would say “no, that’s silly.” The same thing applies to passwords. Passwords are pointless if they are accessible to other people. Using a password schematic, like the one outlined above, enables you to have unique passwords for each account, but they will be easy to remember, so you will not need to write them down.