Tonight’s hack post… how to create hack-proof passwords so you can feel safe about your computer.
Tips to create hack-proof passwords:
1. Never, ever use whole words. If the word exists in the dictionary, it can be easily hacked.
2. Combine special symbols with numbers and upper and lowercase characters. Examples: n$iK@07 or 8*neB#kc.
3. Make sure your passwords are at least six to eight characters.
You’ve followed my tips, and now you have a hack-proof password. The problem is that your cryptic passwords are hard to remember. Seriously, are you really going to remember “n$iK@07″? I’m not. You need somewhere to store your passwords.
Password management:
If you’re like me, you have a dozen or so passwords for various websites, applications, networks, and so on. Now that you’ve changed each password using my tips, you need someplace to store them. Safely.
I recommend and use the following: Password Safe. This is an open-source project, a database that encrypts each individual password.
The Pros: Since it’s an open-source project, anyone can look at the source code of the application (there are no hidden backdoors), based on strong Blowfish encryption, auto-generates strong passwords, free.
The Cons: Interface needs work
- Crack Windows Passwords | June 15, 2007
- Mobile Security 101 | September 12, 2007
- IronKey 4 GB USB Flash Drive | September 21, 2007
- OpenLogic Expands Open-Source Repository | July 6, 2007
- Google Code Search | October 5, 2006
