10 Tips for Creating a Strong Password

1.     Use a strong password. A strong password contains a combination of six or more uppercase and lowercase letters, plus punctuation and numbers.  Using all four types of characters works the best. For example instead of using welcome use W3Lc0mE^9.

2.     Passwords should be eight or more characters in length. The longer the password, the harder it is to crack.

3.     Never use the same password twice. If, for example, your eBay account were hacked and your password obtained, the hacker would have instant access to your PayPal account if you use the same password.

4.     Do not use common information in your password, such as birth dates, your phone number, or other information directly related to you.

5.     Passwords comprised of characters rather than proper words are more secure.

6.     Refrain from writing passwords down and do not login to accounts via a public computer (e.g., at the library or Internet cafe) and save the password details in the browser.

7.     Never click an e-mail link and log into a secure site from an e-mail. Even if the e-mail looks legitimate, always type the URL into a browser yourself, then log in to your account. This will help you avoid phishing attacks.

8.     Do not allow applications to store your passwords online, and remember to clear your browser cache, history and clear passwords frequently.

9.     Remember to change your passwords frequently. The more important the account, the more frequently the password should be changed.

10.   Never communicate a password to anyone, especially via e-mail or instant messenger. Passwords should always be kept private.