Create more-secure passwords

So many daily activities require codes and PINs that it’s nearly impossible to come up with—and remember—a unique password for each one. You probably use two or three names, words, or number combinations for all your passwords without much thought as to which password corresponds with which activity. While that approach may suffice for your favorite news Web site, it’s not good policy for your e-mail password and ATM code.

You’re not that clever
Before you dismiss the following advice as paranoia, realize that hackers can break many passwords with simple programs or educated guesses. They run “dictionary attack” software that in minutes tries every word in the English language; they try every variation of common careless passwords, such as qwerty, password, hello, logon, gigem, hookem, etc. Someone who observes you or monitors your e-mail—yes, they do that—can easily decipher passwords based on the names of your children, spouse, and pets, and your phone number, address, and hobbies.

Pick your battles
Some passwords are not worth sweating over. If a stranger wants to log in as you to view the content on a news Web site, who cares? Identify these low-risk passwords, make them all the same, and don’t worry about ever changing them. You can even take advantage of Web-browser functions that remember your passwords for you.

For those things that you feel uneasy about someone breaking your code—financial accounts, business records—you need to create passwords not susceptible to easy hacking.

Complex yet memorable
Creating a secure password doesn’t have to result in an unrelated string of characters. You can generate something memorable, but incorporate these tips to keep most snoopers out of your records:
• Try to make your passwords at least eight characters long.
• Alphanumeric combinations are harder to crack than those with only letters or numbers.
• Intentionally misspell a word.
• Include a symbol or punctuation mark and use it to divide the password.
• If the password is case-sensitive, mix uppercase and lowercase letters.

Invisible ink might work
In an ideal world, you would never write down the passwords to your most-sensitive activities. However,
if you must write them down, be smart about it. Don’t indicate in any way what the passwords are for.
Don’t tape them underneath your desk or slip them in a book on your office shelf. In fact, don’t keep a written copy of your codes or PINs near your computer, phone, or anywhere else you would use the passwords.

The best place to keep them is in a bank safe-deposit
box, which would allow your family access to your records if something happened to you. Many of you
might find running to the bank for a password inconvenient, so choose an obscure location that works for you. Remember, people who try to break your code have seen it all, so be creative.

Photo © Picturequest.

Buyers & sellers, visit www.texasrealestate.com.
REALTORS®, visit www.texasrealtors.com.