The  Compass

-- Michael Raymond

How secure are your passwords? You do use more than one don't you? By the way, "12345" and p@ssw0rd are not passwords. They are invitations to have whatever you're using them on compromised. Email, FTP access to your site, your bank records.

The more frequently a password is used, the less secure it becomes. More so if that same password is used to guard multiple access points. For instance, if I learn that your email password is "sanity"— or virtually any other word in the dictionary&8212;, what do you think I'm going to try as a password if I know where you bank?

Password don'ts:

• DON'T use all numbers


• DON'T use a word as it appears in a dictionary or names


• DON'T just tack a 1 (one) onto the end of a dictionary word


• DON'T use "password" or "changeme" in ANY form
  

• Most experts suggest 8-14 characters for passwords.


• Use a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and symbols from the top row above the numbers on your keyboard.


• Change them frequently