Support :: Security :: Passwords

Strong Passwords
Your passwords are the keys that you use on the Internet to open online services such as email or your user information where you are a member of a site and should also be the keys you use to open your own computer. Strong Passwords are vital to your online and computer security. If your Passwords are easy to guess then your personal information is easy to get at. Once your personal information has been accessed then it can possibly be used to open accounts in your name, get net credit cards and to make online purchases. It should therefore be obvious that you want your passwords to be as hard to crack as possible. (See our Free Online Password Generator | | )

What are weak passwords?
Weak passwords are such things as plain english words, peoples names, birthdays common phrases etc. Many people choose passwords that they find easy to remember. They would do better to remember that passwords that are easy to remember are easy to guess. Weak passwords can contain.

• Dictionary words.
• Foreign words.
• Simple transformations of words (mypass11, 7leven, elom8).
• Names, doubled names, first name and last initial.
• Uppercase or lowercase words.
• An alphabet sequence (abcde123) or a keyboard sequence (qwerty).
• Very short words or just one character.
• Words that have the vowels removed.
• Telephone numbers.
• Numbers substituted for letters, like a zero instead of the letter O or a number 1 in place of the letter l (he110).

What are Strong Passwords?
Strong Passwords are as the name suggests offer much stronger protection than weak passwords. Strong passwords are long random and difficult to remember (this does not however excuse people who write passwords on sticky notes attached to their monitors) the use mixed cases, numbers and possibly other symbols too. (See our Free Online Password Generator | | )

General Rules
Use passwords that are as long as possible for maximum security. When confronted with a prompt that says (for instance) enter a password 6 - 10 characters always opt to use the longest password that you can.

Do not repeat NOT use any plain english words. If you use ordinary words then you are instantly laying yourself open to what is known as a dictionary attack where an attacking script simply tries every word in the dictionary from (in the case of a password that is known to be in the range of 6 - 10 letters long) 6 - 10 letters long in sequence, it will take a little time buy with enough tries your password is guaranteed to be broken sooner rather than later. (See our Free Online Password Generator | | )

Avoid weak Passwords

Do not use transliteration. i.e.

1. Easy to remember word = philosophy
2. Easy to crack password = filosofi

Bad guys with dictionaries can (and do) easily automate these substitutions fi = py, i = y etc.

Do not Interleave dictionary words i.e.

1. Easy to remember word = email pass
2. Easy to crack password = epmaasisl

We realise that this looks harder to crack (and to an extent it is) but it lacks the essential element of a strong password randomness.

Do not substitute synonyms i.e.

1. Easy to remember word = emailpass
2. Easy to crack password = letterkey

This simply replaces one easy dictionary attack with another, your gain in security = 0.

Do not substitute antonyms i.e.

1. Easy to remember word = goodmorning
2. Easy to crack password = badnight

Again this gains nothing whatsoever in the way of security.

Do not ever Ever EVER use dictionary words in any way shape or form!

So what does a Strong Password look like?
A strong password on first glance makes a lot of people cringe and cry out "I'm never going to remember that!". (See our Free Online Password Generator | | )

Here is an example of a strong password.
9DRENMD&c14!X4pYwwe7O20x4N7yzAyve8bZifIFZSsgK0h(Gh$LDY8B%qbCK^uMW gFTokDo#SD9f2nfUYB0KoZeZwyQxCOaSsEkr8OSUEHmRF)1iR8gpAvzIbc75C13&S nz6n6#@g$kEzAG-iLWP0NNXcd9fOQbxOY&s)Mt!VqXN~*pD6&W5U^3NtLeeK&O8^J 4fj6urYQmCQrIYLRgXF#TSV-LeWKBghOFaYTnI#TRh7sK^AGxaxdcOUU1s$M8R27q m2GILnR5gsS1GAYAuSiGK@RUvBFVkqz498cEPJRmRq5Yk2VNg%2DIqoceUQZcjim6 hIGvvjuJn5#-3Q-fm7(M9ZFLEIRqSQt&QX3i5Kl#!wKe54RSoDd5WU8jYJ$GQzjG4 N4GSYWh!6cAT7SvLTT$BIbJ1Df4G5H7)TPwea4jJqgF2JgN14EAHvOgEn$7JDtW0e oPx@HgW2HMtxN9YdaH0aXoTeU7uZn62Eh8kWIu0n4QhjW

Only Joking! - But not really.

As you can see an 8 letter password is somewhat more secure than an equivalent 6 letter password. (See our Free Online Password Generator | | )

Linx Data Ltd. do not sell computers or computer peripherals, however as we are regularly asked by our clients and others what laptops, home or office computers are the best value for money.
Linx Data Ltd. Recommend Dell computers.

Dell Desktop Dimension XPS™ 630 - (D11X604) | / Intel® Core™ 2 Quad-Core Processor Q6600 (2.40Ghz, 1066MHz FSB, 8MB cache)/ Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1 - English/ Hard Drive 750 GB Serial ATA non Raid (7200 Rpm)/ 3072MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2 Dual Channel [2x1024+2x ... £ 1,448

Dell Desktop Dimension XPS™ 630 - (D11X605) | / Intel® Core™ 2 Quad Processor Q9400 (2.66GHz, 1333MHz FSB, 6MB L2 cache)/ Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1 - English/ Hard Drive 750 GB Serial ATA non Raid (7200 Rpm)/ 3072MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2 Dual Channel [2x1024+2x5 ... £ 1,697.99

Linx Data Ltd. Recommend and Use Dell Computers exclusively.

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