How many times have you heard that someone’s account was hacked? Well, that seems quite shocking, and it invokes fear in you! No matter how much you know about account security, hearing it from an acquaintance greatly bothers you. You start thinking that you hope the same does not happen to you. Once it happens, frauds, thefts, and assets are at risk. A strong password helps to prevent such things. This post will share how you can create strong passwords for anything, including Google Accounts, Instagram, and more.
Best Ways To Create Strong Passwords
While you might know several tips to create strong passwords, some could also be myths. Besides, sometimes you may forget your password and think of making an easy-to-remember one. You would also think of making a strong password and creating something you cannot recall. Here we will help you in creating strong passwords.
Before thinking of a password, you must note it somewhere that is not easily accessible. Moreover, you should also ensure that you store them securely.
There are three methods to create stronger passwords. They are listed below:
- Store Passwords in Password Manager
- Use Browser to Create a Strong Password
- Use a Combination of at Least Eight Letters, Numbers, and Symbols
How would these methods help you with stronger passwords? Let’s jump into its answers!
1] Store Passwords in the Password Manager
Most of you would note down your password and other credentials on your device, like a phone, laptop, desktop, or similar. Alternatively, you may store it in a Word file and upload it to a cloud drive. All these practices are wrong and can make it easier for hackers to access your accounts.
In such a scenario, you can use password managers to save up all of them. If you are a professional in the IT sector or do a white-collar job, your seniors would have provided you with a password manager tool. You can store all your credentials on it.
If that’s not the case with you, you can also use password managers. Password managers provide a database wherein you can note down all your passwords.
Further, you have to encrypt it with a master key (passcode kind of) which is quite difficult for hackers to hack. Instead of remembering the passwords of different accounts, you need to memorize only one. It is noteworthy that most efficient password managers are paid.
2] Use Browser to Create a Strong Password
All modern browsers now offer to generate passwords. If you right-click on any password text box, it will suggest a strong password and automatically fill it in, and the browser can also save it along with the user name.
The feature is available in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, Brave, and many other browsers. In Microsoft Edge or Chrome, you can go to Settings > Profiles > Passwords and enable the option to Suggest strong passwords.
3] Use a Combination of at Least Eight Letters, Numbers, and Symbols
One of the most basic yet unused hacks remains using a combination of 8 characters to think of a stronger password. These characters should include letters, numbers, and symbols. Make sure that the letters should contain both uppercase and lowercase letters. The combination should not be generic or related.
You might substitute letters with look-alike numbers and a symbol to create a strong password. However, that’s again malpractice. For instance, you may write SUM33T01 instead of SUMEET01. But this fantasy-type style is relatively easy to decrypt.
An eight-character password of numbers, letters, and symbols should be unrelated. For instance, l1%g#&1e is a stronger password.
Creating strong passwords is a fundamental norm, and sites care about user privacy and security. Therefore, several websites and platforms require you to develop an 8-character password consisting of letters, digits, and symbols. Further, some also ensure that the letters used are uppercase and lowercase.
Related: Generate Strong passwords which you need not remember
Conclusion
Thinking of how to create a strong password is challenging. Yet, you would have known the way you could do so.
In crux, you should create an 8-character-long password. These characters should include uppercase and lowercase alphabets, digits, and special symbols, all of which should be unrelated. Moreover, you can sometimes exceed it longer than eight characters, but we do not recommend doing so. It can be lengthy and time-consuming. Even some sites do not let you use longer passwords. The eight characters are an ideal size.
For ease, you can use a password generator tool to generate stronger passwords. To secure them, you can use a password manager tool. Here, you can store all your passwords in a single place. You will have to secure them with a master password, so it’s inaccessible to others. This is quite effective as you do not need to remember multiple stronger ones but only one.
How to Keep your Password Safe?
While you have now learned about the ways using which you can create stronger passwords, now, knowing how to keep your password safe against intruders is essential.
There are three ways to protect your passwords against it:
- Do Not Let your Device or Browser Save Passwords
- Do Not Disclose your Password to Others
- Avoid Noting Down Passwords at Easily Accessible Locations
Let’s learn more about it!
Do Not Let your Device or Browser Save Passwords
You would find it difficult to remember passwords. Browsers, thus, have the feature to save your password across different sites. Further, some browsers like Chrome also have the auto-fill feature that automatically inputs passwords for you. Even most devices nowadays have such features.
The devices and browsers are not safe to keep your passwords. Yes, you heard that right! Hackers can easily break into the password database and access them. Moreover, even malicious files put your passwords vulnerable to a security breach.
Do Not Disclose your Password to Others
No matter how many close acquaintances you have in your professional or friend circle, please do not disclose your passwords to them. Be it a tech expert you know, your best friend, any of your family members, or similar. Even if you are contacting a support team, you should also avoid sharing your password with them.
Some anonymous users send links, messages, and calls and try to seek your login credentials, including your password. You should avoid accessing them. Instead, you should also prevent sharing any of your details.
Avoid Noting Down Passwords at Easily Accessible Locations
You would note your passwords in a notepad, a document, a spreadsheet, or at a location on your device. Such practices can put your security at risk. Anyone using your device can see the password. Even a person stealing your device can access them and pose a threat. It’s even easy for hackers to hack your device and check all your credentials.
Some of you would be aware of the notion. In such a scenario, you would note your passwords on a piece of paper like the sticky notes on your wall, a notepad around you, or similar. Here, you must ensure that the piece of paper should not appear at easily accessible locations. You can note them on paper and keep them safe from anyone else.
Common Password Mistakes
It has become quite common when users complain that their accounts are hacked. It usually happens when someone knows your password. You may be thinking that you have not disclosed it to anybody. But it happens when your password is easy to guess for someone else. The person need not necessarily be a hacker.
Let’s know the common mistakes that make it easier for others to guess and hack your password.
Using Important Dates
Several dates hold a special place in your life. It may be your birthdate, wedding date, or even such dates of your nearby ones that are noteworthy for you. Many of you use the date in combination with letters and digits. To sum up, most of you would be using them to create a password with desired characters. Thus, anyone can easily decode it.
Related: Simple passwords are also strong if you can make them special
Using Numbers or Letters in Ascending/Descending Order
When skipping important dates, you would think of letters or digits with no meaning. Many of you would use a random string of letters or numbers to create passwords. Think of just typing characters from left to right or right to left. Most of you use this trick in your passwords. Never write passwords in order like QWERTY, ABCDEFGH, MNOP, 12345, 55431. It’s the simplest one that the other person can guess.
Reusing Passwords
You would be using the same password in more than one place. This is the most common mistake that most of you make. You create a password and think you will use it on many sites or platforms. But a person who hacks your password for one platform can do it for more using the same password.
Using Related Words
Apart from important dates, you would have some likes and dislikes. You would have a favorite book, movie, influencer, actress, or similar. Do not add related and meaningful words to passwords. For instance: some of you would keep “I love 1D” as a password. You should avoid any related words to your password.
Using Generic Words
Using generic words is also a mistake, like using related words. You should avoid the usage of dictionary words in passwords. Some of you would also add specific describing words to it, but such things should not be used in the password. When you add an unrelated string with different types of characters, then it becomes pretty difficult for the hacker.
We also recommend adding a two-factor authentication system wherever possible to add an extra layer of security.