amset

.info
.co.uk - exchange consultancy
.net - internet based solutions

Broadband - Exchange
Login Scripts - Net Admin
Outlook - Windows Mobile
Windows

Contact - Advertise

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Hints and Tips

Choosing a New Password

Modems

Smileys

Acronyms

Office Files Recovery

Outlook Tips

Windows Tips

Choosing a Secure Password

You will use a lot of different passwords when on the Internet. A guide to all of these has been written. These passwords should be changed regularly, for increased security. When changing  your password, you should select a password that will be very difficult to guess. The following points should help you when choosing your new password. This is taken from RFC 1244:

  • DON'T use your login name in any form (as-is, reversed, capitalised, doubled, etc.)
  • DON'T use your first, middle, or last name in any form. - DON'T use your spouse's or child's name.
  • DON'T use other information easily obtained about you. This includes car registration numbers, telephone numbers, tax numbers, the make of your car, the name of the street you live in, etc..
  • DON'T use a password of all digits, or all the same letter.
  • DON'T use a word contained in English or foreign language dictionaries, spelling lists, or other lists of words.
  • DON'T use a password shorter than six characters.
  • DO use a password with mixed-case alphabetic.
  • DO use a password with non-alphabetic characters (digits or punctuation).
  • DO use a password that is easy to remember, so you don't have to write it down.
  • DO use a password that you can type quickly, without having to look at the keyboard.

Examples of Bad Passwords:

johnd, dnhoj, johndjohnd, JOHND, ABC123D, The Close, 0123456789, xxxxxx, mouse, truck, lorry, me, you

Examples of Good Passwords:

w@Ter55h00t, Si11yb0y

Methods of selecting a password which adheres to these guidelines include:

  • Choose a line or two from a song or poem, and use the first letter of each word.
  • Alternate between one consonant and one or two vowels, up to seven or eight characters. This provides nonsense words which are usually pronounceable, and thus easily remembered.
  • Choose two short words and concatenate them together with a punctuation character between them.

Passwords should be changed periodically, usually every three to six months. This ensures that an intruder who has guessed a password will eventually lose access, as well as invalidating any list of passwords he/she may have obtained.

More Information: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/privacy/password.mspx

Sponsored Links

Last Page Update:
15/06/2006

Back to the Top
Contact Us - Advertise on amset.info
Hints and Tips Index - Home Page


Broadband - Exchange - Login Scripts - Network Admin - Outlook - Windows Mobile - Windows


© Amset IT Solutions Ltd. 1998 - 2008. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any content on this web site is prohibited without express written consent. Use of this web site is subject to our terms and conditions. All trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners. This site is not endorsed or recommended by any company or organisation mentioned on this site. This site is to provide guidance only and as such we cannot be held responsible for any consequences of following the advice given.