Simple clear advice in plain English

Make your passwords unbreakable

Adding letters, numbers and symbols to your basic password will help enhance the security of your computer and help keep you safe from hackers

Check how strong your password is
Strong passwords will help keep your documents and files safe

I have a simple method to create passwords that is secure and means I do not have to leave a vulnerable list on my computer or written down.

First, make a phrase such as Jeff plus Edith equals two children. Using the first letter or the symbol for each word (J+E=2c).

As it is not safe to use the same password for everything and that this isn’t really long enough, some kind of a suffix is needed.

These extra digits can be made up by using the initials of the program they are related to. So that ‘Windows7’ would be wind07 the ‘wd’ is used from each of the syllables of windows, giving a complete password of J+E=2cwind07. Another example could be Family Historian 4, which would give J+E=2cfhist04.

You can check how good your passwords are on the Microsoft password checker website.
John Fisher

 

Reader Comments

   

Add your comment

All fields must be completed. Your email address will not be displayed or used to send marketing messages.

All messages will be checked by moderators before appearing on the site.

See our Privacy Policy for more information.

Related articles

q-a-logo

How can I password protect documents?

Stop others from editing your Microsoft Word documents

keepass-password-storage

Create, store and protect passwords with Keepass Professional Edition

This open source password tool helps keep your passwords safe

roboform-password-manager

Remember passwords the safe way with Roboform

A tool that enables you to log on to password-protected websites and services with ease

Question & Answer

Q.Why are some of the keys on my keyboard doing strange...

> Read the answer

Q.Is my phone’s Bluetooth any use?

> Read the answer

Q.Can I switch boot drives so that I can work on older...

> Read the answer

Best deals on the web

img

WACOM Bamboo Pen & Touch Graphics Tablet

£47.97- Buy it now

img

LIVESCRIBE Echo Smartpen - 2GB, Black

£69.99- Buy it now

img

Dell Keyboard : Danish (Qwerty) Dell KB212-B Quietkey USB Keyboard Black (Kit)

£21.59- Buy it now

Latest issue & subscription deals

Poll

Are you concerned about viruses that target mobile phones?

Jargon Buster

Computing terms explained in plain English

Restore point

A Windows backup of system files and settings.

Great shopping deals from Computeractive