Step 1.

The first step in creating strong passwords is to know what weak passwords look like.  A weak password uses personal information, like your name, birthday, family member’s names, or a pet’s name. These types of passwords can easily be guessed by someone who knows you.

Step 2.

Learn what makes a password strong. A strong password is more secure and harder to break because it is original, complex and random. A strong password is also long, containing at least 7 to 14 characters, and has a variety of characters, including:

• UPPERCASE letters A-Z
• lowercase letters: a-z
• Numbers: 0-9
• Symbols: ~`!@#$%^&*()_-+={[}]|\:;"'<,>.?/

Step 3.

Come up with your strong password. First, think of a word or sentence that comes to mind - it can be something completely random. Then change some of the letters to upper case and add in numbers, symbols and punctuation randomly (not just at the end of the phrase). It’s also a good idea to substitute a number or symbol for a letter, such as using 3 for E.
For example, the song title “All You Need Is Love” becomes “ALuN##d57\./!”

Step 4.

Check the strength of your password on this Microsoft test site. Type in your password and the bar below the text box will illuminate with the password’s strength. Your password should reach "Medium" strength at a minimum. Keep tweaking your password until it's strong enough.

Step 5.

To be extra secure, use a passphrase rather than a password. A passphrase is much longer--usually at least 20 characters. The easiest way to create a strong passphrase is to take a phrase and then distort it. Switch words around to make it nonsensical, replace letters with numbers and symbols, and use a mix of upper and lower case letters. Also take the time to learn how to use Diceware to create a strong passphrase.

For example, Mark Swearingen explains how he came up with the passphrase: %1943oRAnge\4sa7ya{Abe}

“The above might be an effective and easy-to-remember passphrase for someone named Samuel Abraham, who was born (or married, or discharged from the military) in 1943, whose favorite color is orange, who has a wife named Yolanda, has four children, and whose favorite number is 7. The passphrase contains the initials "sa" and "ya" as well as an abbreviated form of Sam's last name. The word "orange" is embedded within the passphrase, but the mixed case makes it less vulnerable to a 'dictionary attack.'”

Step 6.

Can’t come up with something original? Worried your password isn’t strong enough? Try using an automatic strong password generator like this one. There are a variety of password generators out there - just Google and play around with them until you find one you like.

Step 7.

Is it safe to use the same password for a variety of sites? No. While it’s easier to use the same password on different sites, it leaves you more vulnerable. It’s best to use different passwords for different sites.

Step 8.

The problem with stronger passwords is that they are harder to recall. So what’s the best way to remember them? Obviously, recalling passwords by memory is your safest bet. If your don’t believe you’ll be able to remember them, write your passwords down and keep them stored in a safe place. Never store your passwords in a computer file.

Step 9.

Other helpful tips:

• If your password is compromised, change it immediately.
• Never send your password to anyone over email.
• Don’t share your passwords with other people.
• Change your passwords every 3-6 months.
• Try to avoid typing in your password on a public computer.
• If you use Firefox for browsing, set up a master password.

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