What Is A Good Password?

What constitutes a "good" password? Our digital lives are ever expanding, and most people have found that what was once a simple and easy to use password for your first email account must now be altered to fit the larger security restrictions of other sites, such as online banking access. Google offers the following password tips for the users of its many services:

• Be creative. You don't want to use words that can be found in a dictionary.

• Use at least eight characters.

• Don't use a password that you have used elsewhere.

• Don't use keyboard patterns (asdf) or sequential numbers (1234).

• Create an acronym. Don't use a common one, like NASA or SCUBA. Combine it with numbers and punctuation marks.

• Include punctuation marks and numbers. Mix capital and lowercase letters.

• Include similar looking substitutions, such as the number zero for the letter 'O' or $ for the letter 'S'.

• Include phonetic replacements, such as 'Luv 2 Laf' for 'Love to Laugh.'

• Don't make your password all numbers, all uppercase letters, or all lowercase letters.

• Find ways of collecting random letters and numbers, such as opening books, looking at license plates or taking the third letter from the first ten words you see.

• Don't use repeating characters (aa11).

• Don't use a password that is listed as an example of how to pick a good password.

So what is ideal? A unique password for every site you access.

It can seem daunting, but it is one of the best ways to increase your digital security and prevent identity theft. To help aid you in this move to enhanced security there is a free in-browser app called LastPass, that will remember, autofill, and maintain a "vault" of passwords for the sites you use. It will also generate random passwords for you, for as many sites as you want. Learn more at www.lastpass.com.

Check the strength of your current password at passwordmeter.com