Choosing secure passwords

Choosing a secure password is now one of the most important things involved with keeping your computer and internet security intact. If someone is able to access your personal things, besides the intrusions into your personal information, there is an almost unlimited list of improper or illegal actions they can do. All of these things will of course be traced back to you and will cause problems for both you and the target party. To avoid this mishap, follow these simple rules:

1.)    ALWAYS MAKE YOUR PASSWORD LONG!
While general security priciples suggests "the longer, the better", a minimum of eight characters is recommended on the Georgia Tech campus for maximum compatibility.

2.)    DO NOT USE ONLY LETTERS!
Use various numbers, symbols, and punctuations when possible. Also try to mix upper case and lower case letters. This multiplies the number of different possible combinations.

3.)    DO NOT USE PERSONAL INFORMATION!
Your name, your spouse's name, your kids names, your dog's name, your mom or dad's name, your maiden name, the high school that you graduated from, your high school mascot, your hometown, ...you get the idea. Use things that are truly unrelated to you.

4.)    DO NOT USE WORDS LISTED IN STANDARD DICTIONARIES!
There are programs out that can go through a dictionary and try every word as your password.

5.)    DO NOT USE WORDS WITH KEYS THAT ARE CLOSE TOGETHER!
Words like qwerty, tryout, 12345, and hhhhh should all be off limits. These are easy for someone to pick out if they happen to glance over your shoulder while you are typing your password.

6.)    CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD REGULARLY!
The Georgia Tech campus policy requires every 90 days. However, changing your password once a month is a good habit to start. This will keep hackers on their toes and keep someone from being able to access your account if by some means they have acquired your previous password.

7.)    DO NOT STORE YOUR PASSWORD IN AN INSECURE PLACE!
In your wallet, in a file on acme, on your dorm dresser, these are all terrible places to keep your "secure" password. The most secure place to keep your password, is in your head. If you must write it down though, put it in a place that will be locked up, and difficult to find.

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   Here are some suggestions to help you choose a secure password:

1.)    USE OFF-THE-WALL WORDS AND PHRASES!
Ex: Shark_batE (notice the capitalization and underscore)

2.)    PUT WORDS INSIDE OF WORDS!
Ex: WOcenterRD

3.)    FLIP WORDS AND SPLIT THEM IN DIFFERENT PLACES!
Ex: esAb.bAll

4.)    MISSPELL WORDS ON PURPOSE!
Ex: TOeTALLY

5.)    USE THE FIRST LETTERS OF WORDS IN A PHRASE!
Ex: IsIpC. ( Information Security Is Pretty Cool .)