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How to Create strong passwords
Overview
A strong password is one of the most effective ways to protect your accounts, devices, and online transactions from unauthorized access. Weak or easily guessed passwords put your personal information, finances, and security at risk.
This guide covers best practices for creating strong passwords, strategies to make them memorable, and common mistakes to avoid.
Instructions
Best Practices for Strong Passwords
- Length
- Make your password at least 12 characters long — the more the better.
- Complexity
- Use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, and symbols.
- Avoid predictable substitutions (e.g., replacing “and” with “&” or “to” with “2”) — hackers know these patterns.
- Variation
- Change passwords regularly (about every 3 months for important accounts like email, banking, or credit cards).
- Variety
- Use different passwords for different accounts. If one site is compromised, your other accounts stay protected.
Creating a Memorable, Complex Password
Step | Example |
Start with a sentence or two | Complex passwords are safer |
Remove spaces | Complexpasswordsaresafer |
Add shorthand or intentional misspellings | ComplekspasswordsRsafer |
Add meaningful numbers | Compl3ksp@sswordsRsafer!2011 |
Additional Strategies
- Test your password using a reputable password strength checker.
- Use a password manager to securely store and generate strong passwords.
- Examples include LastPass and 1Password.
Avoid Common Password Pitfalls
Cybercriminals use advanced tools to guess passwords quickly.
Do not use:
- Dictionary words in any language
- Words spelled backwards, common misspellings, or abbreviations
- Simple sequences or repeated characters (e.g., 12345678, 222222, abcdefg, qwerty)
- Personal information such as your name, birthday, driver’s license, passport number, etc.
Troubleshooting
- Can’t remember your password? Use a password manager to securely store it or write it down in a safe place.
- Account locked? Follow your account’s password reset instructions immediately.
- Unsure if a password is strong enough? Test it with a reputable password strength tool before using it.
Still Need Help?
If your question remains unanswered or if you require further assistance, please contact the IT Help Desk at ithelp@captechu.edu.
When contacting IT, please include:
- Name
- ID Number
- CapTechU email (and personal email if you’re locked out of your CapTechU email)
- The system you are having an issue with (e.g., Email, Portal, Virtual Library — URLs appreciated)
- Error message
- Any full-screen pictures of the error message