CHOOSING PASSWORDS

A third party has suggested that a simple way to protect yourself and your information is with a strong password. The strongest passwords should look like a random string of characters to an attacker, yet it does not have to be difficult for you to remember. Think of a sentence, phrase or string of words that you can easily remember. For example, children's names in order of their birth: "AnneMichaelOscar".

Turn the names into a password adding complexity with upper and lower case, numbers and symbols. For example, substitute the A with @, the S with $, the E with 3, the O with Zero and so on, like this: @nn3M1ch@310$c@r.

Use a reputable Password Checker to evaluate your password's strength and, remember, keep your password a secret:

Don't share it with others.

Don't store it on a file in your computer, in your wallet or under your keyboard.

Don't share passwords in emails and do not access any password guarded site via a link in an email. Instead, go to your web browser and enter the site name into the address bar.

Don't enter passwords on computers you do not control (computer labs, internet cafes, kiosk PCs, airport lounges, etc.). Criminals can buy keystroke logging devices to gather information typed onto that specific computer. Website login names and passwords are as valuable as the information you are trying to protect.

Do not use the same password for multiple sites; if one gets compromised, consider all websites using that password just as compromised.

Hopefully this information will help you keep your information more secure.