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posted by GKT at
4:41 pm
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Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Monday, December 13, 2004
Computer Tips - Coming up with a secure password that's easy to remember
Computer security depends on having a secure password. That is, one that's hopefully not the name of your spouse, pet, team, friend, or incorporates something directly associated with you such as your birthday.
The reason people tend to pick such passwords is that they are easy to remember. So how do we come up with an obscure - and therefore secure - password that is still easy to remember?
Answer? Use a mnemonic. A mnemonic is usually a short sentence, rhyme or phrase for remembering something. Mnemonics can take various forms but when applied to passwords, a good suggestion is to use the first letter from each word in a mnemonic phrase.
For example. how's this for a secure password: csd0haSp.
How did I create this? Quite simply, by using the first letter of each word in the first sentence of this tip! (see for yourself.. Computer security depends ...), plus I substituted '0' for 'o'. I also used a capital S for secure, because I happen to emphasise this word when I say this mnemonic in my head. Using this basic rule and tweaking it by replacing letters with numbers (e.g. 2 for z, 3 for e, 5 for s, 0 for o, etc.), and selecting a letter to be uppercase based on how you say the mnemonic to yourself, you can easily come up with a great password that you won't forget anytime soon. The mnemonic could be based on anything - a line from your favourite poem, a song, a movie; something unique to you. Even if someone can possibly guess the "topic" of your mnemonic, it's going to be tricky to guess the combination of letters and numbers you choose to represent it.
The reason people tend to pick such passwords is that they are easy to remember. So how do we come up with an obscure - and therefore secure - password that is still easy to remember?
Answer? Use a mnemonic. A mnemonic is usually a short sentence, rhyme or phrase for remembering something. Mnemonics can take various forms but when applied to passwords, a good suggestion is to use the first letter from each word in a mnemonic phrase.
For example. how's this for a secure password: csd0haSp.
How did I create this? Quite simply, by using the first letter of each word in the first sentence of this tip! (see for yourself.. Computer security depends ...), plus I substituted '0' for 'o'. I also used a capital S for secure, because I happen to emphasise this word when I say this mnemonic in my head. Using this basic rule and tweaking it by replacing letters with numbers (e.g. 2 for z, 3 for e, 5 for s, 0 for o, etc.), and selecting a letter to be uppercase based on how you say the mnemonic to yourself, you can easily come up with a great password that you won't forget anytime soon. The mnemonic could be based on anything - a line from your favourite poem, a song, a movie; something unique to you. Even if someone can possibly guess the "topic" of your mnemonic, it's going to be tricky to guess the combination of letters and numbers you choose to represent it.
posted by GKT at
5:42 pm
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