Recommendations for passwords

Recommendations how to create good username or passwords.
(Information has been collected from links listed below - use them to find more)

"If you've ever lost your wallet, you know the sense of vulnerability - that someone else could be walking around with your identification, pretending to be you. Well, if someone were to get your passwords - log on to your computer or your online accounts - they could ultimately assume your digital identity, pass themselves off as you, and have fun at your expense."

It is a quotation from microsoft security&privacy page.

1. What makes a password strong?

The challenge, of course, is in creating a password you can remember, but hard for anyone else to guess.

A good password should:

• Have at least seven characters in length, and the longer the better. (Passwords for Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP can be up to 128 characters long.)
• Contain a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters
• Be alphanumeric (contain both letters and numbers)
• Contain punctuation keys - the use of punctuation keys is critical and means the difference between a password that can be cracked and one that cannot be.
• Have at least one symbol character in the second through sixth position
• Have at least four different characters in your password (no repeats)
• Look like a sequence of random letters and numbers
• Be changed frequently
• Be significantly different from any formerly used password.
• Never be shared, written down, or mailed to others
• Be easy to remember (for you, not for others!) - The temptation to use loved ones names, birthdays and anniversaries is great. But "easy to remember" can also become "easy to guess." The challenge is to create something that is memorable for you but tough for others to decipher.

Warnings:

• Don't use ANY PART of your login for your password
• Don't use any actual word or name in ANY language
• Don't use numbers in place of similar letters
• Don't reuse any portion of your old password
• Don't use consecutive letters or numbers like "abcdefg" or "234567"
• Don't use adjacent keys on your keyboard like "qwerty"

The built-in feature of Arovax TraySafe - the password generator meeting all these requirements.

2. Manage your passwords

You'd be surprised with the number of people who write down their secret password, and tape it to the monitor or tuck it into a desk drawer next to their computer. To be sure you should follow to advice:

• Keep it to yourself or safe password manager.
• Don't write it down.
• Don't share it with anyone.
• Don't check the "remember my password" feature without considering the value of the data of protection of the password.
• Don't store your Microsoft.NET Passport information on your computer.
• Create different passwords for information that needs a high level of protection (like information on financial Web sites) and for information that needs only casual protection (like online magazines).
• Change your password at least every six months. Windows XP governs passwords with an expiration date. Read about resetting your passwords in Windows XP.
• If you have a reason to tell someone your password, then create a new one as soon as possible.

3. Monitor your accounts, your credit and your reputation

Make sure that someone doesn't have fun pretending to be you:

• Review your accounts online frequently to spot transactions you didn't authorize such as online credit card charges, mutual fund transfers, bank account withdrawals.
• Review monthly statements you receive in the mail for unauthorized activity.
• Call an account if you don't receive a monthly statement in the mail.
• Get a credit check annually to see if anyone opened a new account under your name.
• If you use Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional, review the Event Log frequently and look for any logons at odd times you can't be online.

Methods:

• Use mnemonics to create memorable passwords - use common used phrase and leave first letters of the words. Or disguise personal information in way that is logical for you. Also use recommendations listed upper.
  
  Example #1:
  "If money could talk, it would say goodbye"
  Becomes: Imct,iwsg
  
  Example #2:
  "May your life be like toilet paper... Long and useful"
  Becomes: mYLBLTP3.lAU
  
  
• You can use common word with next modifications:
  • Wrong or irregilar spelling
  • Use uppercase and lowercase randomly
  • Replace come characters with numbers or punctuation keys
  • Remember it!

Links to get more information about creating a good passwords:

• Microsoft security: How to create stronger passwords
• Princeton University: Creating Strong Passwords

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