Password Tips

# Password Tips and Examples

As computing power has gotten faster and cheaper, password cracking generators have gotten better as well. A password cracking program can rapidly try all English words, all combinations of seven or fewer characters, and common passwords such as `12345678` and `password123`. In addition, anyone with access to your personal information can try names and dates from that information.

### Good Password Requirements

A strong password:

- Is at least 8 characters long (preferably longer)
- Doesn't include your name or other easily obtained personal information
- Uses a mix of lower case letters, uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols
- Is only used for one program

### Password Advice and Examples

To create a strong password that is still easy to remember, try starting with a phrase or sentence. Then play around with symbols, shorthands, and misspellings to make it more secure. Remember that you can have spaces in your password. Some examples:

- "Beans and rice are my favorite foods" can become `Beans&ricearemyFavoriteFoods!`, `Rbeans&ricemyfavoritefoods?` or `BeansNRiceRFavz!`
- "I can't wait 2 go to Spain" can become `Ican'twait2go2Spain!`
- "Meet me at the store" can become `mEEtme@zeStore`
- "Cat or dog?" can become `?KatsRd0gs` or you can leave it as is.

### What Makes a Bad Password

Do not base your password on any of the following. They are far too easy to guess (even if you spell them backwards).

- Any names, including yours or that of your parents, children, pets, friends, characters from popular media, etc.
- Your phone number, address, birthday, etc.
- Your social security, drivers license, or license plate numbers.
- One or two words found in a dictionary.
- The phrases "Let me in," "open up," or something similar.
- Simple patterns like "lolololololo" or "12345678."
- Any password used as an example in a manual or in help (including the examples given here).
- A password that you use elsewhere, especially an insecure program or website.

### Related Help

- Change Password
- If you forget your password