Patrick

How To Make an Impervious Password

Your computer is your connection to the Internet. But it's also the Internet's connection to you. If someone guesses your password they can steal your social security number or your credit cards and cause you all kinds of trouble. However there are ways to protect yourself. A good password can stop most hackers.

1

Taken from CNN

Pick an unusual phrase. Avoid fancy sounding terms such "nova" or "paradigm," they're obvious. Also stay away from birth dates or the names of family members. Pick something nonsensical, like "banana_peel" or "exploding_amplifier." Also good are little known terms from hobbies you no longer practice or old jobs. For example, an ex-psychologist might use "homlichophobia" or a former chess buff could use "en_passant." Avoid using language from activities you're still involved in, they may be associated with you.

2

Taken from Scott Ascott

 Misspell your password. Switch "el"s backwards. Mix capitals with lower case letters. Substitute some a's with @'s, i's with !'s, and o's with zeros. Add underscores and dashes. But try to find some balance between how wrong you can spell it and how well you can remember it. If you can't memorize it is too complex. Never write your password down.

3

Taken from the SUNY Health Care Center

 If your computer is in a public place you'll want to have a screen-saver password as well. Change it frequently. Also change your Internet password if your server will let you. Again you must find some balance of how often you can change it and how well you can remember it. Once a month works well.