Creating A Strong Password

Passwords are essential for keeping your accounts and data secure, but we know they can be a hassle. While we all wish for a future without passwords, we’re not there yet, so it’s crucial to make the ones we do use as strong as possible.

What Constitutes a Strong Password?

Creating a strong password starts with understanding the elements that make it difficult to crack or guess. The days of using your dog’s name with a few numbers added are long gone. A strong password should be:

• At least 12 characters long (14 or more is even better).
• A mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to add complexity.
• Not a common word or name found in a dictionary, or the name of a person, character, product, or organization.
• Unique and different from your previous passwords to avoid repetition and reduce the risk of compromise.

Avoid Common Symbol Substitutions:

Using typical symbol substitutions like @ for “a” or 3 for “e” might seem clever, but hackers know these tricks too! Avoid:

• @ (substitute for “a”)
• 1 (substitute for “i” or “l”)
• ! (substitute for “i” or “l”)
• 3 (substitute for “e”)
• $ (substitute for “s”)
• 0 (substitute for “o”)
• 5 (substitute for “s”)

Consider Using a Password Generator

Why not let technology handle it? Several online tools can help you create strong, random passwords:

• Strong Password Generator – BitWarden
• Password Generator – LastPass
• Password Generator – Keeper Security

Consider Using a Passphrase For Your Password

A passphrase is a combination of words that form a memorable phrase.

Passphrases are usually longer than 14 characters and should contain unrelated words to make them more secure. Because a passphrse is longer and more complex than a traditional password, it is considered a more secure authentication method. The concept behind a passphrase is that longer words or phrases are more resistant to brute force attacks (when attackers attempt to crack passwords by trying different combinations).

However, it’s important to avoid common phrases. For example, the following passphrases could be relatively easy for hackers to guess:

• Iloverockandroll
• helloworldhowareyou
• happy birthday to me
• Imwalkingonsunshine
• Thisisareallylongphrase

Better passphrases would be:

• My#Dogs#love#2#play!   (Approximate Crack Time: 12,453 centuries)
• My.1st.concert.was.the.Who?  (Approximate Crack Time: 52,975,369,835 centuries)
• Strange%Vibrations%Here%they%say22 (Approximate Crack Time: 283,763,899,280 centuries)

Here are two websites that can help you generate a passphrase:

• https://www.useapassphrase.com/
• Secure Passphrase Generator (untroubled.org)

Why Use a Password Manager?

The best passwords are the ones you don’t have to remember, which is where a password manager comes in. These tools securely store all your passwords, making it easy to have a unique password for every account without the hassle of remembering them all. Despite occasional news about breaches, using a password manager is still the best way to protect your information.

Some of the best tools include:

• Keeper (offered by ViaTek)
• Bitwarden Open Source Password Manager
• 1Password for Families, Businesses, Teams

Need Help?

If you have any questions or need advice on creating strong passwords or using password managers, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email us at sales@viatek.net or call (303) 664-1182.

Stay secure!