How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember
Strong passwords protect your accounts, but ones you cannot remember are useless. The trick is to make passwords that are both hard to guess and easy for you to recall. This guide shows simple methods to do exactly that.
What Makes a Password Strong
A strong password is long, ideally at least twelve characters, and mixes letters, numbers, and symbols. Length matters most, since a longer password is far harder to crack than a short, complex one.
Avoiding common words and personal details makes it stronger still.
Use a Passphrase
One of the easiest methods is a passphrase: several unrelated words strung together, perhaps with numbers and symbols between them. A phrase like a vivid, random mental image is both long and memorable.
Because it is long but meaningful to you, it is strong yet easy to recall.
Make Each One Unique
Using the same password everywhere means one breach exposes all your accounts. Vary your passwords, perhaps by weaving in something tied to each site within your passphrase method.
Your most important accounts, like email and banking, deserve their own unique, strong passwords above all.
It is also worth changing the most important passwords periodically, especially if you hear that a service you use has suffered a data breach. You do not need to change everything constantly, but refreshing the passwords that protect your email and finances adds a sensible layer of ongoing protection.
Avoid Common Mistakes
Do not use obvious choices like your name, birthday, or the word password, and avoid simple sequences like numbers in order. These are the first things anyone trying to break in would attempt.
Swapping a few letters for symbols in a common word is also weaker than it looks.
It is also worth avoiding writing your passwords on notes left near your computer, since a strong password offers little protection if it is in plain view. If you need a written reminder while you learn a new password, keep it somewhere private and separate from the device it protects.
A Safety Note
For the strongest protection, consider a password manager, which generates and remembers complex passwords for you, so you only need to recall one master password. Pairing strong passwords with two-factor authentication adds an extra layer that protects you even if a password is TOTAL WLA exposed.
Conclusion
Creating strong, memorable passwords is easiest with a long passphrase that is unique to each important account. Avoid obvious choices, and consider a password manager to handle the rest, keeping your accounts both secure and accessible.