Introduction
Almost every person owns or operates a password-protected machine. So many online services utilize password security. Some of these services include an email account and a bank account. Digital systems store confidential information. Some of these systems are computers, phones, and safety deposit boxes (Password Protection, 2010). A password should be chosen such that it is very hard to speculate or hack. It should be complex but easy to remember.
Analysis
A password can be a string of lettering or a secret word depending on the interests of the user. A password is what confirms to the computer or any other digital device that is protected by a secret code that the person accessing the information is who he/she claims to be (Password Protection, 2010). Safeguarding a password is very important because if an individual can access another parson’s password, then he/she is in a position to access that person’s confidential information such as bank account detail. To avoid such incidences, the password should be very strong.
A password can be made stronger and hard to hack or guess by observing a recommended procedure of password generation. One of the factors to be considered when creating a password is the length of the password. The longer it is, the more security it will offer (How to Make Strong Passwords Stronger, 2012). The minimum number of recommended characters in a password is eight. The complexity of the password is also enhanced by using the entire keyboard while creating it.
It should contain letters in lower and upper cases, punctuations, numbers, and symbols (Tips for creating a strong password, 2012). The more the characters are varied, the stronger the password. This is because password hacking software has the capability of automatically scanning for the possibilities of one’s password. The only way the cracking of a password can be avoided is through making it complex.
A stronger password enhances security by preventing guessing. It is still vulnerable to hackers. Password variation is a very important technique in security enhancement that prevents hacking. An automatic reminder can be set to ensure the bearer of the account is reminded to change his/her password. The maximum recommended period of using a password without changing is three months. Cybercriminals have the capability of accessing and stealing passwords from websites that have very little security. Therefore, it is recommended that a person should use different passwords for different accounts (How to Make Strong Passwords Stronger, 2012). This creates a variety of passwords and hence strengthening security.
Acronyms have important applications in password creation. The acronyms chosen should be easy to remember. They should also relate to an event that is easy to remember (How to Make Strong Passwords Stronger, 2012). Other common mistakes that people commit when generating password include the use of words from the dictionary, spelling words backward, use of common abbreviations, the use of a sequence of repeated characters, the use of letters that are adjacent on the qwerty keyboard, and the use of personal information in the password (Tips for creating a strong password, 2012). If such mistakes are avoided while creating a password and the recommended length is observed, then the generated password will be strong enough to offer the required security.
Conclusion
After a strong and credible password has been created, it should be passed through websites that check the strength of the password. This will ensure that the chosen password is not a common password.
References
Password Protection. (2010). StudyMode. Web.
How to Make Strong Passwords Stronger. (2012). Securitywatch.pcmag. Web.
Tips for Creating a Strong Password. (2012). Windows.microsoft. Web.