password protected: a simple guide to creating strong passwords
DESCRIPTION
A simple guide to creating strong passwords. Brought to you by Resource One - trusted managed IT services provider serving the Portland, Oregon Metro Area since 1997.TRANSCRIPT
PASSWORD PROTECTED. A Simple Guide to Creating Strong Passwords
WHAT WE’RE GOING TO COVER
3 Elements of Strong Passwords
How to Put Them to the Test
Common Mistakes
Most Popular Passwords
ELEMENTS The 3 essential elements you’ll need to include in every password you create.
LENGTH
• At least 8 characters long
• Try using several words or a sentence grouped together
• Example:
SENTENCE PASSWORD This sentence is my password Thissentenceismypassword
COMPLEXITY
• Use a combination of letters, numerals, and symbols
• Alternate between upper and lower case (3 of each is recommended)
• Example: TIP: Use numbers that are meaningful to you. For example, ThisSentenceismyPassword2014.
BEFORE AFTER Thissentenceismypassword ThisS3nt3nceismyPassword.
VARIETY
• Use different passwords across your accounts
• Change them up every couple of months
• Retire old passwords, or reinvent them with numbers and symbols
CHECK YOURSELF Before you wreck yourself. You’ve created it, now it’s time to set that baby to work. How will it hold up?
TEST IT OUT
• Run your password through a Strength Checker
• If it’s a strong password, use it!
Microsoft offers a free password strength checker. You can access it using this link: http://bit.ly/18RC8km
COMMON MISTAKES We all make them. Here they are, so you know what to avoid.
THINGS TO NOT DO
Hackers these days are smart, with sophisticated tools that can easily decipher passwords. Avoid these things to protect yourself: • Words spelled backwards, common abbreviations
• Common sense letter-to-symbol or letter-to-number
replacements Ex) “and” to “&” or “o” to “0”
THINGS TO NOT DO
• Using personal info – birthday, maiden name,
phone number, etc. • Easy-to-guess sequences – 12345, abcde, 0000
THE MPP That’s Most Popular Passwords. These are the most commonly used passwords out there, and therefore you should avoid using them.
THE TOP 10 LIST
Source: SplashData
password
123456
12345678
abc123
qwerty
1
2
3
4
5
monkey
letmein
dragon
111111
baseball
6
7
8
9
10
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