Passwords provide the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your computer and personal information. The stronger your password, the more protected your computer will be from hackers and malicious software. You should maintain strong passwords for all accounts on your computer.

Importance of a Strong Password

One of the concerns that people often have when it comes to creating complex passwords is a fear of forgetting them, particularly when there are several to remember. Naturally, a person should try to think of something that will be easy for them to memorize. One way to do that is to turn a sentence or phrase into something that is not easily recognized by others. To do this, use the first letter of every word in the sentence, replacing certain words with numbers or symbols. For example, the word "for" may be replaced with the number 4 or the word "number" with the # symbol. With this method, a password such as "Save the number for later in the year" may read St#4LITY.

Here are some useful tips for creating strong passwords and keeping your information secure.

• Use a unique password for each of your important accounts (i.e. email and online banking). Do not use the same password across multiple accounts.
• Your password should be at least 8 characters long. The password should consist of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. A long password will offer more protection than a short password if it is properly constructed.
• Do not use personal information such as your name, age, date of birth, child’s name, pet’s name, or favorite color/song when constructing your password.
• Avoid consecutive keyboard combinations (i.e. qwerty or asdfg).
• Look around and make sure no one is watching while you enter your password. If somebody is, politely ask them to look away.
• Always log off/sign out if you leave your device for the day – it just takes a few seconds to do and it’ll help ensure that no one uses your system for malicious purposes.
• Avoid entering passwords on computers you don't control – they may have malicious software installed to purposely steal your password.
• Avoid entering passwords when connected to unsecured Wi-Fi connections (like at an airport or coffee shop) – hackers can intercept your passwords and data over unsecured connections.
• Never tell your password to anyone.
• Change your passwords regularly and avoid using the same password over and over again.
• Never write down your passwords on a sticky paper and hide underneath your workstation or telephone. Somebody will find it.
• Always select “never” when your Internet browser asks for your permission to remember your passwords.
• Enable Two Factor Authentication(T2A) wherever possible.

We all have a responsibility to keep our information secure. These guidelines will help you avoid most of the pitfalls you may encounter along the way.