Critical Topics
E-mail Scams and Hoaxes
Password Tips
Hackers relish this practice of habit and convenience. When selecting a password for commercial use, you should avoid the following information as a password:
- Your username
- Your name (and nicknames) or family name (including pets)
- Your birthdate
- Your SSN
- Your address, phone number, license plate, or town/city/state
- School mascots or slogans
- Your hobby, favorite color, or other personal preferences
In fact, your password should not be any word included in a dictionary, popular acronym, or common slang. With the sophisticated techniques available, simply reversing the spelling for any of the aforementioned words will not protect you adequately.
Recommendation:
- When creating a password, use at least eight characters and mix numbers with letters.
- For instance, you might select a special date in your life and put letters and/or other numbers at the beginning or end of the password.
Here are some additional suggestions:
- Combine short, unrelated words with numbers (eAt42peN)
- Substitute numbers or special characters for letters. (L1v3F!sh – using the number one, three, and an exclamation point.) Substituting numbers and special characters for letters reduces the password’s predictability.