Crafting a Good, Easy-to-Remember Password: Best Practices and Tips

In today's digital world, passwords play a crucial role in safeguarding our online accounts and personal information. However, creating a strong password that is also easy to remember can be a challenge. This article will outline the characteristics of a good password, provide tips for crafting easy-to-remember passwords, and share examples to help you create secure yet memorable passwords.

Characteristics of a Good Password

A strong password should possess the following characteristics:

1. Length: A good password should be at least 12 characters long. Longer passwords are generally more secure, as they take more time and effort for attackers to crack.
2. Complexity: Incorporate a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters to create a complex password that is difficult to guess.
3. Unpredictability: Avoid using common words, phrases, or patterns. Instead, opt for a unique combination of characters that is not easily guessable.

Tips for Creating Easy-to-Remember Passwords

1. Use a passphrase: Create a passphrase by stringing together a series of random words, making it easier to remember while maintaining complexity. For example, "BlueHorseBatteryStaple."
2. Employ mnemonics: Use a memorable sentence or phrase and take the first letter of each word to create your password. For instance, the sentence "I went to Paris in 2019 with my best friend" could become the password "Iw2Pi19wmBF."
3. Substitute characters: Replace certain letters with numbers or special characters that resemble the original letter. For example, the word "password" could become "p@55w0rd."
4. Combine unrelated words: Pair two or more unrelated words together and use a mix of character types to create a memorable yet strong password. For instance, "Giraffe$nowball42."
5. Add a personal touch: Incorporate personal elements like hobbies, favorite colors, or memorable dates, but avoid using easily discoverable information such as your name, birthdate, or address.

Examples of Good, Easy-to-Remember Passwords

1. Passphrase example: "CoffeeElephantGuitar#12"
2. Mnemonic example: "MfBfLs2k22" (My favorite book is Lord of the Rings since 2022)
3. Substitution example: "T0mat0&L3m0n"
4. Unrelated words example: "Penguin!ceCream87"
5. Personal touch example: "PurpleSkiing!2023"

Conclusion

Creating a good, easy-to-remember password is essential for maintaining the security of your online accounts and personal information. By incorporating the best practices and tips outlined in this article, you can craft strong passwords that are both secure and memorable. Remember to regularly update your passwords and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts to further enhance your online security.

Want to know how good your password is?  Try it (or a variation of it) here: