Creating & Remember Strong Passwords

In today's world, we constantly hear of this company getting hacked or organizations exposing the personal information of hundreds or thousands of people. So one of our most extensive defenses is making it a practice to use strong passwords in our personal and professional lives in this digital world.

It's easy to stress the importance of using complex passwords that are difficult, if not impossible, to guess. Simple passwords with little or no complexity, such as Monkey123, or passwords containing personal information, such as your birthday BD1971010101 are not secure. Some have used a common practice of utilizing the same password on all their accounts for social media, email, banking sites, etc.

Complex passwords using letters, numbers, and symbols might look like FEw+&M!Tu574vt. I don't know about you, but that would be difficult for almost anyone to remember. Complex passwords could be a series of words such as "unmailed-driller-protore-reformist."

Never use the same credentials on multiple websites and services. If the site gets hacked, your personal or login information is exposed. If this happens, you are at risk of a hacker using your credential and attempting to log in to your banking or other institution to steal funds or defraud you in some way.

Password managers are an excellent way to create and manage complex passwords. Password managers can also store notes, files, and other information you need to keep secure. It's a good idea to get in the habit of using a quality password manager. Some popular password managers are.

• Bitwarden is an open-source password manager that offers a free tier with unlimited password storage and a paid tier with additional features. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
• 1Password is a paid password manager that offers a wide range of features, including secure password generation, password sharing, and two-factor authentication. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
• Dashlane is another paid password manager that offers a similar set of features to 1Password. It is also available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
• LastPass is a freemium password manager that offers a basic set of features for free, with additional features available for a monthly subscription. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
• KeePass is a free and open-source password manager known for its security and flexibility. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
• mSecure is a good password manager that offers a variety of features at a reasonable price. It is a good option for users looking for a secure and reliable password manager with a wide range of features.

Some people have yet to adopt the idea of a password manager because you have to get into one place, and then they have access to everything. If you are not there, here are some tips that can help you create and remember complex passwords without storing them someplace or writing them down:

Use passphrases: Instead of using a single word as a password, use a phrase that is easy to remember. For example, "I love hiking in the mountains" can become "ILhikingitm."

Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols: Use various uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to create a password that is difficult to guess. For example, "ILhikingitm" can become "Il#k1ng1tm."

Avoid common words and phrases: Avoid using common words and phrases such as "password" or "123456." These are easy to guess and can be easily cracked by hackers. Instead, use a unique password for each account: Do not use the same password for multiple accounts. If one password is compromised, all your accounts will be at risk.

Again, a password manager can help you create and remember complex passwords without writing them down. It also stores your passwords securely and can automatically fill in your login details.

Create a password hint: Create a hint that will help you remember your password without giving it away. For example, "my favorite childhood toy" could be a hint for the password "TeddyBear1929."

Use muscle memory: Try associating your password with a specific movement or action you remember. For example, "Il#k1ng1tm" could be associated with tapping your fingers in a particular pattern.

Always prioritize your passwords' security and change them regularly (every 90 days, for example). Following these tips, you can create and remember strong passwords without compromising security.

Congratulations if you made it this far into such a long article. But this is an essential topic for everyone, both personally and professionally. There is no one correct answer and no one approach to managing passwords. However you manage and create your passwords, they must be complex and not easy to guess or figure out. If you make it easy, it will also be easy for the hacker.

Your personal information is one of your most essential possessions in life. Therefore, I want to challenge you to get in the habit of making strong passwords commonplace in your life. I sincerely hope you find this information both interesting and engaging.