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| Cybersecurity Expert Alexander Lunev on How to Create a Strong Password and Remember It. |
In today’s digital world, weak passwords are an easy target for hackers. With the help of special programs, dictionaries, and databases, cybercriminals can crack them and gain access to your accounts.
To avoid falling victim to fraud and dealing with the aftermath of a hack, it’s crucial to regularly update your passwords and create new ones for every service.
How to Protect Your Account from Cybercriminals
1. Create a Long and Complex Password
Your password should be at least 15 characters long. Although some services may accept shorter passwords, it’s best to aim for a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols.
Such a password is much harder to crack, making hackers less likely to bother with your account.
2. Use a Unique Password for Each Service
This is especially important for accounts that store your personal data or have your bank details attached.
If you use the same password everywhere, once one account is compromised—like a social media account—hackers can easily access other accounts.
Ensure that the passwords are significantly different from each other, as even small similarities can make them vulnerable.
3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
2FA adds an extra layer of protection. You’ll need to confirm your identity in two different ways, usually by entering your password and then a one-time code sent to your phone or email.
Many platforms and social media services now offer two-factor authentication, so take advantage of it.
How to Store and Remember Complex Passwords
The easiest and most convenient option is to use a password manager. This is a special tool that securely stores all your passwords in an encrypted format.
With a password manager, you only need to remember one password—the one for the manager itself.
Many large companies, like Yandex, even have built-in password managers in their browsers.
These programs can also generate strong passwords for you, so you don’t have to worry about coming up with them yourself.
If you’re not keen on using additional software, here are two other methods:
1. Passphrases
A passphrase consists of a sequence of four or more words. The key is to choose words that aren’t easy for others to guess.
For example, you could use the names of your favorite dog breeds: Bulldog-poodle-corgi-pomeranian.
Or try a personal motto like Live-brightly-believe-in-yourself. Adding numbers or symbols will make it even more secure and harder to guess.
2. Mnemonic Passwords
This technique involves creating a password from the first letters of a memorable phrase, like a line from a song or poem.
For example, if you take the lyrics "Kids were laughing in my classes, / While I was scheming for the masses," your password could look like KwlimcWiwsftm.
You can make it even more complex by using mnemonic replacements, where letters are substituted with symbols or numbers.
For example, the line "Who do you think you are? / Dreaming about being a big star" can be turned into Wh0_d0-Th1nK-y-@ or Dre@m1Ng-b0uT@B1g-St@r.
Lastly, never store your passwords in your phone’s notes, social media, or saved messages.
No matter how strong the password is, if it’s easily accessible, it could still end up in the hands of hackers.
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