Strong, Memorable Passwords
Keeping track of passwords is a challenge.
With the necessary focus on using strong passwords, it is even more of a challenge.
Because of the way they are constructed (seemingly random strings of different types of characters), strong passwords are hard to remember without writing them down. Writing them down is a security hazard.
One way to remember a strong password without writing it down is by remembering a sentence. The password is constructed from that special sentence.
Think of a special sentence at least 8 words long. Let it be a sentence personal to you that will be remembered.
Example, "My dog Spot wags his tail when I come home."
There are three steps to construct a strong password from that sentence.
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Type the first letter of each word of your special sentence.
MdSwhtwIch
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Between the 1st and 2nd letters, insert the characters "!@" (keyboard shift "1", shift "2").
M!@dSwhtwIch
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Now, append the first two letters of the domain name where the log-in form is at. If the log-in form is at willmaster.com, append the letters "wi".
M!@dSwhtwIchwi
There you have it, a strong password that is nevertheless memorable.
Notes:
If your special sentence ends up with a password that contains a word found in a dictionary or other sequence of characters that weakens the password, think of a different special sentence to use.
The position of the characters in step 2 can be changed, as can the characters to use. Just don't make it so complicated that you might forget how to construct the password.
The characters to copy from the domain name in step 3 may be changed, the last three instead of the first two, for example. Keep it simple. Keep it memorable.
Will Bontrager
