A tablet with sign in screen and security symbol and a female on laptop

 

October is Cybersecurity Awareness month. Let's take a closer look at creating and using strong passwords for safer accounts.

Simple passwords (like 1234) or common identifiers (such as birthdays or pet names) are not safe for protecting your personal and financial accounts. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) shares that using an easy-to-guess password is like locking a door but leaving the key in the lock. 

You can strengthen your passwords using three simple tips below.

Three Simple Tips for Strong Passwords

  1. Create long passwords.
    • Create passwords with at least 16 characters.
    • The longer the password, the stronger it will be!
  2. Make random passwords.
    • Use a random string of mixed-case letters, numbers, and symbols. For example:
      • Good: yok4n3tcvov82g3o
      • Better: bcPgp#$AK9pQN8Tq
      • Best: G&!kHXF5s!Lx6NUWjFxQMgnH7Rd
    • Create a memorable passphrase using 4–7 unrelated words. For example:
      • Good: ZebraYellowHatWalk
      • Better: ZebraYellowHatWalkUmbrella
      • Best: ZebraYellowHatWalkUmbrellaCarrot
  3. Develop unique passwords.
    • Use a different password for each account. For example:
      • Work email: G&!kHXF5s!Lx6NUWjFxQMgnH7Rd
      • Personal email: ZebraYellowHatWalkUmbrellaCarrot

Important Note: The example passwords above are for illustrative purposes only and should not be used.

Pro Tip: Use a Password Manager

Password managers store encrypted versions of your passwords so you don’t have to remember them. You only need to remember one strong password, such as a long passphrase, for the password manager itself.

There are many options for password managers. Some are free, like the built-in password manager in your web browser, while others cost money. You can search a trusted source, such as Consumer Reports, to review highly-rated password managers. 

Helpful Videos and Resources

Additional password resources include: