Passphrases, complex passwords, passcodes, and PINs must be handled, and stored carefully so that they are not compromised. Your organization should have user authentication policies that balance security with usability. Not all two-factor solutions are equal-but all will improve your overall cyber security posture. If you use two-factor authentication, you could use a password that is 6 to 8 characters in length because the extra authentication adds another layer of protection. a password and a token, a password and a fingerprint) to log in. Two-factor (or multi-factor) authentication makes accounts more secure by requiring at least two items of authentication such as something you know and something you have, (e.g. Two-factor authentication strengthens your device and account security. For example, to access your bank account, a threat actor would need to know your PIN or passcode and have physical access to your bank card. Always make sure your PIN is made of random numbers. Passcodes use a minimum of 4 digits because there are other protection mechanisms in place to protect your device or account. Use passcodes or PINSĪ passcode or PIN is a sequence of numbers that is at least 4 digits. For example, the phrase, “My jersey number when I played competitive soccer was 27!” can be used to remember the password, “Mj#wIpcsw27!”. You can also think up a phrase and then use the first letters of each word to create a complex password that is more memorable. A password made up of lowercase and uppercase letters, as well as numbers and special characters, is more complex than a password of only lowercase letters. a website requires that your password is less than 15 characters). Use a password that is as complex as possible if you cannot use a passphrase (e.g. Phishing attacks are common, but you can protect yourself by reading the tips in ITSAP.00.100 Spotting Malicious Email Messages and installing anti-malware software on your devices. If a keylogger is installed on your device, a threat actor can use it to capture the keystrokes you use when entering your passphrases and passwords. Threat actors send phishing emails to trick you into giving your personal information and, in some cases, installing malware, such as a keylogger. For example, you might create a passphrase by using association techniques, such as scanning a room in your home and creating a passphrase that uses words to describe what you see (e.g. Your passphrase should be at least 4 words and 15 characters in length. A passphrase is a memorized phrase consisting of a sequence of mixed words with or without spaces. We recommend that you use passphrases, as they are longer yet easier to remember than a password of random, mixed characters. This will impact your ability to follow our recommended guidance. the letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and special characters that a password must and must not contain). Keep in mind that websites and applications have different password creation rules that you will have to follow (i.e. Review the tips below to learn how you can create passphrases, strengthen your passwords, and avoid common mistakes that could put your information at risk.įor passwords, we recommend that you use a minimum of 12 characters. By using passphrases or strong passwords you can protect your devices and information. banking, social media, and email), and the websites you visit. You have passwords for everything: your devices, your accounts (e.g. That's a 26-character password that includes numbers, letters, uppercase, lowercase, and a one special character.Alternate format: Best practices for passphrases and passwords (ITSAP.30.032) (PDF, 954 KB) In other instances, you could swap "e"s to "3"s or "L"s to "1"s, etc.Īnd let's finish it with an exclamation mark. Keep the capital letters at the start of each line. Reduce this to the first letter in each word. "Jack and Jill/ Went up the hill/ To fetch a pail of water/ Jack fell down/ And broke his crown/ And Jill came tumbling after." If your favorite rhyme is quite long, feel free to crop it down a bit. One preferred method of coming up with complex passwords-even those that require 15 character decryption keys-is the nursery rhyme technique.Ĭhoose one of your favorite nursery rhymes, capitalize the first letter of each sentence, replace certain letters with numbers, and follow that up with some form of punctuation or special character at the end. Here are a few ways you can create a strong password or passcode that you can actually remember.
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