{"id":25485,"date":"2023-10-27T03:43:21","date_gmt":"2023-10-27T10:43:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/?p=25485"},"modified":"2024-01-23T10:04:08","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T18:04:08","slug":"create-strong-password","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/create-strong-password\/","title":{"rendered":"The Newbie\u2019s Guide to Creating Strong Passwords"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m sure we\u2019ve all got the speech memorized: your password must contain at least eight characters, a number, a symbol, and a partridge in a pear tree. If you\u2019re anything like me, you\u2019re inevitably going to forget what you choose and resort to clicking the <em>Forgot Password<\/em> link of shame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Strong passwords might be a hassle, but the extra two minutes they\u2019ll cut from your day could be the difference between a safe account and a hack attack. In today\u2019s world \u2014 where our entire lives are online in one way or the other \u2014 you can\u2019t afford the latter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days of \u201c12345\u201d and \u201cPassword\u201d are long gone, so what\u2019s the best and safest way to keep up with the times? Consider this your comprehensive guide to passwords \u2014 how to create effective ones, why they\u2019re non-negotiable, and why we\u2019re in this position in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What\u2019s the Deal with Passwords?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s not something we think about often, but passwords aren\u2019t a young idea. Most sources credit their origin to ancient Rome, when sentinels used watchwords to distinguish enemies from comrades.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They\u2019ve also been prominent for most of history, from identifying bootleggers during Prohibition to separating allies from German forces during World War II. Let\u2019s not forget about entertainment \u2014 passwords have central roles in stories like Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Harry Potter, and even The Lord of the Rings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Passwords as we know them came about in 1960 at MIT. Personnel needed a way to separate their sessions and files on shared devices, so a computer scientist named Fernando J. Corbat\u00f3 took matters into his own hands and developed modern passwords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They were the simplest and most effective way to solve MIT\u2019s problems, so, naturally, other institutions adopted them \u2014 namely the military and research facilities, since the PC hadn\u2019t made its way into households yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ll have to cut Dr. Corbat\u00f3 some slack for this, but one big issue was that his original password system had a security flaw. Users could simply print out all stored passwords and access any session they desired. Some accounts claim users would do this to sneak more than their allotted hours in, while others would leave nasty messages for associates they didn\u2019t get along with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the dawn of the personal computer, passwords became more than a solution to MIT\u2019s time-sharing problem. They evolved into a necessary security measure no one in cyberspace can do without. Rather than protecting military secrets and classified information, they do something far more important: they protect our privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\ntr {padding: 10px;}\ntd {padding: 10px;}\n<\/style>\n<table class=\"center\" rules=\"all\" style=\"border: 1px solid black; width: 100%; margin: auto;\">\n  <thead><tr><th colspan=\"3\" class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\" style=\"background-color: #6aa84f; color: none; border: none; padding: 5px;\"><h2><strong>\u26a0\ufe0f Types of Password Hacks\n    <\/strong><\/h2><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n  <tbody><tr>\n   <td colspan=\"3\" class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\" style=\"background-color: #cc0000; color: #000000; padding: 5px;\"><h3><strong>Brute Force Attacks<\/strong><\/h3><\/td>\n   \n  <\/tr><\/tbody><tbody><tr> <td>Simple Brute Force Attack<\/td>\n    <td>Hackers obtain your password by systematically attempting possible combinations until they succeed.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n     <td>Dictionary Attacks<br><\/td>\n      <td>Similar to a simple brute force attack, a hacker goes through a list of common words until they find a match.<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td>Credential Stuffing<br><\/td>\n      <td>Since many people use the same password for multiple accounts, if a hacker discovers your password, they\u2019ll try your credentials on other sites to see if they can get in.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td>Password Spraying<br><\/td>\n      <td>This is when a hacker obtains a large list of usernames and attempts to log in using one password until they find matches. If the password is unsuccessful, they\u2019ll move onto a new one.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td>Spidering<br><\/td>\n      <td>Sometimes hackers crack passwords simply by paying attention. In spidering, a cybercriminal studies your account, compiles a list of words you\u2019re likely to use, and deciphers your password from there.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n<tr>\n      <td>Rainbow Table<br><\/td>\n      <td>Some companies protect your password with a process called hashing \u2014 when your password is replaced with a cryptographic sequence. A rainbow table is a tool cybercriminals use to decode this cryptograph.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\" style=\"background-color: #cc0000; color: #000000; padding: 5px;\"><h3><strong>Social Engineering<\/strong><\/h3><\/td> \n<\/tbody><tbody><tr> <td>Phishing<\/td>\n    <td>Phishing is when scammers masquerade as legitimate brands, contact you, and request your personal information or credentials. Often, these scammers pose as tech support and lie about issues with your account, or they try to lure you in with news of fake giveaways and prizes they claim you\u2019ve won.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n     <td>Spear Phishing<br><\/td>\n      <td>Instead of pretending to be trusted brands, scammers might pose as someone you know \u2014 a good friend, a relative, or a colleague \u2014 in hope you\u2019ll more readily reveal your credentials or private information.<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td>Whaling<br><\/td>\n      <td>As if phishing weren\u2019t already bad enough, a whale phishing attack is when scammers impersonate your boss (or any senior at work) and demand your credentials from you. Most people don\u2019t think twice.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n  <td colspan=\"3\" class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\" style=\"background-color: #cc0000; color: #000000; padding: 5px;\"><h3><strong>Eavesdropping<\/strong><\/h3><\/td> \n<\/tbody><tbody><tr> <td>Man-in-the-Middle<\/td>\n    <td>This is when hackers position themselves between you and the website you\u2019re accessing without your knowledge, to intercept your data or communications. Sometimes they listen in and steal your data, other times they redirect you to dodgy websites that do the heavy lifting for them.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n     <td>Keylogging<br><\/td>\n      <td>A keylogger records everything you type on your computer. Sometimes they\u2019re used legitimately, but more often than not they\u2019re spyware, and cybercriminals use them to figure out your credentials.<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td>Shoulder Surfing<br><\/td>\n      <td>If you\u2019re not careful, cybercriminals don\u2019t have to go to great lengths to break into your account. Some hackers simply watch you log-in and make a mental note of your password.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><br>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Simple Passwords Put Your Privacy at Risk<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quick quiz: If you acquired a large sum of money, where would you rather keep it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In your lunchbox in the communal fridge at work<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In a safe in your garage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In a vault at the bank<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A communal fridge isn\u2019t safe at all \u2014 think about lunch thieves. They simply look to see who\u2019s lunch they can take, and they do. A safe might suffice, but it comes with some issues. It obviously has valuables in it, and a determined enough thief could steal the whole thing and find a way to break it open later. C is your best bet, because even though breaking into a bank is not impossible, it\u2019s the furthest thing from easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This same logic applies to passwords. Cybercriminals <em>really<\/em> want your data, and silly, sentimental, or simple passwords won\u2019t stop them from getting to it. They depend on your carelessness to do what they do, and prey on people who aren\u2019t tech-savvy or careful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As with a bank, you can count on the fact that cybercriminals will try, so the best you can do is make it as difficult as possible for them to succeed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Create the Strongest Password Possible<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Focus on Length<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The more characters in your password, the trickier it becomes for cybercriminals to decode it, for two reasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Firstly, longer passwords are more difficult to guess, so they reduce the likelihood of a successful brute force attack. Secondly, most hacking software attempts every possible character combination until it finds a match. In this case, more characters means exponentially more possible permutations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Implement Complexity the Right Way<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Length isn\u2019t the be-all-end-all of password security, and sometimes the site you\u2019re signing up for will have a character limit anyway, so don\u2019t rely on length alone. You\u2019ll have to add a curveball or two to the mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you set up a new password, you\u2019ll almost always be prompted to include a letter, number, and special character. This is to add complexity \u2014 for the same reason above. It creates more work for cyberthugs who want to break into your accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s the problem. You might not have ever been taught how to add complexity effectively.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Capitalizing every word, replacing a vowel with @, adding 1 to it, and ending with an exclamation point or question mark is the oldest \u2014 and therefore most predictable \u2014 trick in the book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">M@ryHadlittlelamb1! is just as ineffective as admin123 because it\u2019s obvious. M#r\u00a5h*d1l!tTleL@mB) on the other hand, not so much.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to be really creative, you could throw in a few foreign characters. For example, if you\u2019re an English speaker, try Kanji, umlauts, or cyrillic letters. But keep in mind, you might be limited by your device or the website you\u2019re signing up for.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background-color: #cfe2f3; padding: 10px; border-radius: 25px;\">\n  <p>The above is just an example. Please never use anything referencing Mary and her pet for your passwords. It\u2019s so overused they\u2019ve become an example of what not to do.<\/p><\/div> <br>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Never Use Personal Information<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most people choose sentimental passwords because they\u2019re easy to remember, but if you have any presence online, chances are you\u2019re advertising your credentials without even realizing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think about all the personal details you share \u2014 everything from your name, birthday and warm memories of your hometown, to your favorite sports team, celebrity crush, or where you went on honeymoon. Never add these details to your password, you never know who\u2019s watching you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">TaylorSwiftStan1993 might be hardwired into your brain, but ease of access isn\u2019t worth the security risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Don\u2019t Be Repetitive<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you made your Facebook password JohnDoeFacebook, and a hacker figures this out, what do you think their next step will be? They\u2019ll try JohnDoeInstagram, JohnDoeYouTube, JohnDoeTikTok, and so on and so forth. The same applies to updated passwords. If your password is JohnDoe1, never update it to JohnDoe2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Variation might seem like a good idea, but it\u2019s the opposite. We\u2019re creatures of habit, and cybercriminals know this. It\u2019s yet another trick they\u2019ve learned to default to and exploit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Use a Password Generator<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When creating your logins, you should try to create as chaotic a password as you can. If a cybercriminal were to attempt a brute force attack, randomness reduces the chances of them guessing your password correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It protects against hacking software too, to a point. Most hacking tools use specific and systematic algorithms. The more inconsistent your password is, the longer it will take machines to crack it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem is, we\u2019re really bad at creating true randomness, because of something called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/za\/blog\/beyond-school-walls\/202304\/are-you-seeing-patterns-that-dont-exist#:~:text=Humans%20have%20a%20natural%20tendency,are%20not%20supported%20by%20evidence.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">patternicity<\/a> \u2014 our natural inclination to seek patterns in everything. To add to this, creating lengthy, complex and unpredictable passwords is harder than it sounds, so what do you do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While you could try your best to slap something together you could always rely on a password generator to do it for you. Computers aren\u2019t capable of creating true entropy, but it\u2019s the closest we\u2019ll ever come. Randomly generated passwords are often customizable (in length, if nothing else), and they remove personality entirely. Hackers can\u2019t pick up on clues, and your credentials will be safer than if you thought of a password yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Best Practices for Creating Strong Passwords<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your job isn\u2019t done once you\u2019ve created a strong password. These 5 tips will further ensure nasty cyberthugs can\u2019t get their hands on your data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Never Leave a Paper Trail<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Making a note of your password isn\u2019t a crime, and I\u2019m willing to bet most of us have resorted to it at some point, but if unwelcome eyes were to stumble upon it, they\u2019d gain immediate access to your accounts. If you need a reminder of your password, keep it cryptic and out of sight. You could also opt for a password manager, to make your life a little bit easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Never Click on Suspicious Links<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s a rule of thumb: if links or attachments seem dodgy, they are. Whatever you do, do not click on or download them. Nine times out of ten, they\u2019re phishing bait intended to acquire your credentials, by interception or malware.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background-color: #cfe2f3; padding: 10px; border-radius: 25px;\">\n  <p>Don\u2019t ever share your password with anyone, especially online. Companies will never ask for your credentials or sensitive information, for any reason. If someone is actively trying to obtain your logins or personal details, run for the hills.<\/p><\/div> <br>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Use Different Passwords for Different Accounts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the worst happens and someone steals your credentials, the last thing you want is for them to have access to all of your accounts. Never use the same passwords across your apps. All it would take is a single data breach for a cybercriminal to hijack your entire digital life. It\u2019s more of a hassle to remember dozens of passwords, but it\u2019s a small price to pay for extra security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Don\u2019t Change Your Credentials Unnecessarily<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/pages.nist.gov\/800-63-3\/sp800-63b.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">National Institute of Standards and Technology<\/a> (NIST) recommends against arbitrarily changing your password. Not only will it affect your ability to recall your passwords, it also has no significant impact on digital security. If you have a strong password, keep it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Use Other Security Tools<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Multi-factor authentication is your best friend. It requires your intervention before any of your profiles are accessed, either by your biometrics, email confirmation, a one-time pin, or a physical security token. This way, even if someone else were to acquire your credentials, they\u2019d still be locked out of your accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A VPN won\u2019t protect your password by default, but it will prevent cybercriminals from tracking you or intercepting your connection. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/buy-vpn-online?conversionpoint=create_strong_password\"><strong>Download PIA<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>to double-down on security. You\u2019ll get all the tools you need to reinforce your privacy, including world-class <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/vpn-features\/vpn-encryption\">encryption<\/a>, a Kill Switch, DNS Leak Protection, and a free <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/ad-blocking-vpn\">ad blocker<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Are Password Managers Safe?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good password managers are generally the safest way to keep your passwords in good standing, because they\u2019re encrypted. If a cybercriminal were to get their hands on your secrets, they wouldn\u2019t be able to decipher them, and your data would be useless (and untouched).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019re better off with a password manager than without one, but you should still proceed with caution. They\u2019re excellent tools, but they\u2019re not impenetrable. Many have experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/password-managers.bestreviews.net\/faq\/which-password-managers-have-been-hacked\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">data breaches<\/a>, and in a few cases, sensitive user data was successfully acquired by the attackers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Offline password managers aren\u2019t as convenient, but since they store your password vault on your device rather than a cloud or remote server, their attack surface is significantly smaller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As with anything, do your research and double check your preferred password manager\u2019s reputation and history before you commit.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Don\u2019t Invite the Vampires In<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All this talk of passwords has reminded me of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. When I was a child, I was obsessed with the NES game, but I was so bad at it, and used Rock \u2018n Roll\u2019s password so many times, I recall it to this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking of the Joe team, remember their PSA, knowing is half the battle? We were never told what the other half is, but we suspect it\u2019s action. Knowledge doesn\u2019t serve us much if we don\u2019t do anything with it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The truth is, there is no lazy way to strengthen your passwords \u2014 unless you opt for a password manager. Even then, multifactor authentication is recommended to be on the safe side.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More importantly, you can\u2019t afford to rely on passwords alone to protect you. You could create the strongest password in the world, but it won\u2019t matter if you don\u2019t practice good digital hygiene.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cybercriminals are growing smarter, so you have to stay one step ahead of them. Creating strong passwords is the simplest \u2014 and one of the most effective \u2014 ways to keep them at bay.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":25492,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[2480,2332,2555,2600,2327],"class_list":["post-25485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-security","tag-cybersecurity","tag-pia","tag-privacy","tag-secure","tag-vpn"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.9 (Yoast SEO v26.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Create Strong Passwords | Private Internet Access<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Cybercriminals keep getting smarter. Creating strong passwords is one of the simplest, most effective ways to keep them out of your accounts.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/create-strong-password\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Newbie\u2019s Guide to Creating Strong Passwords\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Cybercriminals keep getting smarter. 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