Choosing a password
Many sites require you to create a password in order to access certain pages. Some examples are forums, web-based email, online banking, online shopping, among others. It is important to have a secure password; here are some tips to help you when you need to create one:
- Don't use passwords that consist of easily accessible personal information, such as address, phone number, or date of birth.
- Make your passwords at least six characters and a combination of numbers and letters. They should also include both capital and lowercase letters.
- Avoid using words that can be found in a dictionary.
- Don't use the same passwords for multiple sites. Reusing passwords, although tempting, is a security risk. We have found that when a hacker gets a hold of a password, they will try to use it on hundreds of other sites to try to access your personal information.
- Don't give your password out to anyone.
- Change your passwords frequently
- It is becoming increasingly common to use "pass phrases." A pass phrase is simply a password consisting of two or more words. For example, "my dog has green eyes" could be used for a password (technically, it is a pass phrase). To further increase security, capital letters, lowercase letters, and numbers should be used.
