Question

Find a secure password - this is how it works

Answer 1

How to create a strong password

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Are your passwords unimaginative and therefore insecure? Then read through our tips for a strong password..

Time and again, criminals steal access data for online accounts. In the worst case scenario, the perpetrators can gain access to bank accounts, online shops or e-mail accounts. Finding a secure and hard-to-crack password is not that difficult at all. There are just a few things you should keep in mind when creating a password. In the following we explain to you what you should pay attention to:

How to create a strong password

1. No unimaginative passwords! Your password should never be "123456" or "aaaaaaa"! Passwords like these can be cracked quickly. Names of pets or dates of birth are also taboo.
   
2. Long password phrases! A combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and characters that are mixed up without any meaning has long been considered a good and secure password. In the meantime, however, passphrases are recommended that do not have to differ so much in the individual digits of the password, but that do not appear in dictionaries.
   
3. The longer the password, the more secure! The following rule applies to passwords: the longer, the more secure. Because short passwords can be cracked faster. Therefore, your password should consist of at least eight characters. You should protect particularly important accounts with a 20-character password.
   
4. A different password for each account! Most people use one and the same password for all their accounts. But that is problematic! If a password has been cracked, the perpetrators automatically have access to all accounts. Therefore, it is best to use each password only once.
   
5. Do not write down passwords! Although the structure of secure passwords makes it harder to remember, you should never write your passwords down anywhere. The note could get into the wrong hands. Better to build a donkey bridge to remember the password. For the password "VJmu6UdH? J!" You might remember the sentence, for example: " V shall, J Udith m Orgens u m 6 U hr d as H from ? j a ! ".
   Alternatively, there is also software that can help you with password management (e.g. KeePass for Windows and KeePassX for Mac / Linux). There you store all your passwords, which are protected with a single master password. In this article we will explain to you how exactly password managers work and introduce you to some programs.
   
6. Use two-factor authentication if possible! More and more online services are offering so-called two-factor authentication . This means that you can no longer just log in with your password, you also need a second factor such as a code that is sent to you via SMS, for example. This means that hackers cannot log into your accounts even if they know your password.

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