Recently I was reading Mashable and ran across an article entitled the “25 Worst passwords of 2011”. You need to click through on this and read it. Is YOUR favorite password on the list?
You might want to read another Mashable article “5 Tools for Keeping Track of Your Passwords” if it is.
I have tried a few of the methods listed, and found them to be good options, but too cumbersome to use. And most are not free.
I have devised a FREE method for dealing with passwords that works for me so I thought I’d share it with you.
When I encounter a website or situation that requires me to generate a password, I follow this method:
- I look for an object that can be used as a memory jogger for that particular site. For instance I might see a stapler on my desk while I am looking at an office supply site that wants a password.
- I take the word stapler and substitute characters and numbers for some of the letters.
- I handle case by starting with capital letters and alternating with lower case letters
- In this example the word stapler becomes St@P13r
- Then I have selected a character that i put in front and a different one at the end
- So now my password looks like this ~ St@P13r*
- I always use the same leading and trailing characters and I always follow the same Upper and lower case convention
Now all I have to do is to remember the memory jogger and my rules and I have an unbreakable password.
For some one to break your password they’d have to figure out what your memory jogger was as well as know your rules. I doubt that it can be done, especially if you keep your passwords at a minimum of 8 characters composed of numbers, special characters and upper and lower case letters.
One final piece of advice. Don’t use the same password for everything. If one site gets compromised and your password and identifying information fall into the wrong hands, it’s a certainty that your login and password will be tried against banking institutions with your information…you’d hate to hand over bank account to some criminal would’t you?
Please share how you manage passwords in the comments.
