A few tips on password strength. You mind sharing yours?
By mimpi
@mimpi1911 (25464)
India
September 3, 2009 7:18am CST
This is an offshoot from my friend's discussion. The importance of changing password doesn't really have to be harped on again and again. We all know the importance if not the urgency. Over the years, my affair with internet has taught me a few things about passwords:
1. Anything on the dictionary can be deciphered. So, its wise to punctuate the passwords with dots, commas..
2. Birthdays, phone numbers, addresses, spouses' nick names - all are very weak passwords. We need to change them to stronger ones by using abbreviations like, I LOVE SUSAN becomes ILS and so on..
3. The security question are generally weak. Anyone close to us,would know the answer. We need to change the spellings or customise our own questions.
This much for now. Will share more when I get to remember more. Would you mind sharing yours?
Happy being online. 
7 people like this
18 responses
@michaeldadona (5684)
• Malaysia
3 Sep 09
Thanks for providing good discussion about 'password' and the related security level of it because a password justly like 'a golden key opens all doors'. In the year of 2007, I had learned about it from a web developer and at least, I must have twelve (12) alphanumeric combination e.g. password8888. Why for twelve (12) combination? She said, it's in the zone of high level of password security.
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
3 Sep 09
Wow!! Thanks for this. You always educate me...BTW, my twitter account, which was suspended for undefined reasons has been reinstated! Hurray!!
2 people like this
@alokn99 (5717)
• India
3 Sep 09
In addition to what you have shared Mimpi,
Keep the number of charachters 8 or more
Use a mix of upper and lower cases
Use a mix of alphabets , numerals and special characters.
Check it with a password strenght meter
And change it as often as you can.
1 person likes this
@alokn99 (5717)
• India
3 Sep 09
You are welcome
Some time ago, i had actually seen the management break into an employees email box on some suspicion, by using a freeware password breaker. It took 3 minutes and the password turned out to be her pet name... That's when i decided i must be very careful with passwords.
Some time ago, i had actually seen the management break into an employees email box on some suspicion, by using a freeware password breaker. It took 3 minutes and the password turned out to be her pet name... That's when i decided i must be very careful with passwords.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
3 Sep 09
You know of magic papers which the kidsuse for fun. Get one of those and write your passwords there. lol..
Or else feed your husband with those...
2 people like this
@CJay77 (4438)
• Australia
3 Sep 09
Lol, I didn't want to that because I'm also careless sometimes and dummy, as you know, lol. How if somebody accidentally see the paper, lol. Thankfully husband has a good memory, I just have to ask him, although there are times that he cant remember as well.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
5 Sep 09
Very useful discussion mimpi. Everyone has suggested very good clues on creating secure passwords. I have used foreign names nobody has ever heard before along with numbers (not birth dates) and I like the idea of upper case and lower case together. We should all have very secure strong passwords after reading these responses! Good one...
1 person likes this
@vkprincedark (334)
• India
3 Sep 09
Nice tips,thanqs for this.Always i go for alphanumeric and symbols.You were right about this security Question.Choosing custom question is always a right choice.
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
6 Sep 09
HI dear!
You have given some good and practical tips regarding password strength and it would be better for all of us if the password are punctuated or it has some special characters like Astrix mark '*' or hash '#', either in between the passwords or in the beginning, provided the site allows you to use 'special character' on your key board. Else, it could be combination of alphabets, numbers and special characters. The best thing is to keep changing the passwords for our own protection and safety.
Have a great day!
Deepak
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
4 Sep 09
for me i don't make password out of words . i just use random letters and numbers and symbols. i just mix them up. it is really hard to remember my password. and i just put in paper or notebook my password so i can get back at them. anyways, i make it a point that my computer remember my password so that i will automatically log in in each site i am in so i will not have difficulty typing those passwords again. though i am quite fast typist now still it is a hassle to type those random characters on the keyboard and many times i will commit mistakes before getting it right and able to log in. but despite it is hard work to have a very hard password it is worth it to keep my password hard to guess.
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
5 Sep 09
I put my pass words in a note book in my desk or someplace where I know where it is and nobody else. I don't use the security Question as it is never what I have for a pass word if I forget I have to go get the note book. So I mite have to do a little work on my own safer that way. Your friend onlydia
@whizkid08 (715)
• India
5 Sep 09
I appreciate you for starting this discussion but its hardly of any use when there are so many script kiddos around!! Keeping a strong password with a combinations of alphabets, symbols, digits won't help you in any way as to protect your account.
What if the hacker uploads a phishing page on the site's server that logs every password into a text file?! How would you go around to prevent that with your "strong" password?! What if he uploads a shell and breaches into the database of the site?! Does your password help in avoiding this stealing?
I've named only a few, however, a plethora of such methods have already been invented!! So, look out before you login on any server, always check for a security encryption, check where you are being directed to and save your account!! Cheers! 
@de_angel97 (549)
• Malaysia
3 Sep 09
Yea, i used to add symbols and numbers in between my password. For example i will use 3 instead of E, 7 instead of L, $ instead of S. I won't using any number from my phone numbers, or address, or spouses' nick names (i don't have one) in my password. Normally i use date of birth of someone i admire when i was a kid. lol. I don't think anyone ever know who I'm in love with when i was 10.
1 person likes this
@dolmitta (221)
• India
4 Sep 09
Passwords are supposed to be handled carefully. It is better not to share your password to people. A strong password should have the following things:
* Upper Case alphabet
* Lower Case alphabet
* Numbers (Minimum 2) and
* A Special Character
eg. Lion123$
@jskarthik1 (66)
• India
4 Sep 09
Give up using traditional words are no.s
Mix up things below
Uppercase and lowercase lettes,
symbols,
numbers,
spaces,
punctuations
etc.,
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
4 Sep 09
The secret questions....I never have used my mothers real maiden name. My best friend....I go back to a good friend I had when I was 5 and no one would ever guess. Same with the name of a pet. My passwords have meanings that no one even real close to me would ever guess. I do have a little notebook that I write everything down in. The bank even knows I lie about my mother's maiden name. I got questioned recently on it and I without thinking gave her real maiden name. The clerk goes..."NO". I laughed and said, "You caught me off my guard. I never use her real name." I then told her the name I use. She laughed and said" smart thinking".
@leenie50 (3992)
• United States
3 Sep 09
Hi Mim,
I know, it's been a while. I've seen your posts in my emails but haven't really had the energy to participate. I also had a bunch of paper work I've been working on that couldn't be put off.
I have to say how cute you are. I love your photo.
You are absolutely correct when it comes to passwords. I usually go with something I can remember. I actually have a rolladex for all my passwords. I should and probably will change my system thanks to you. Hugssss
leenie
