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SECOND: Create a Password Convention

September 16, 2008 By Gail Gardner 14 Comments

Do you have so many passwords already that they could throw a convention? How would you like to know about a simple way to have a different secure password for every account that you can easily “remember” whenever you need it – without looking it up? Read on.

First you need to understand what makes a good (i.e., difficult to crack) strong password. The easiest way to do that is to know what weak passwords are. Instead of explaining all the variables I’ll just offer how I create password conventions for clients.

  1. First two to four letters of the site where the password will be used
  2. A number the same length as the number of letters you selected (2-4)
  3. A special character – not all special characters are acceptable on all systems
  4. Decide what order you wish to combine them in and write down your pattern

Here are some examples of patterns you could use:

  • Three letters, special character, three numbers
  • Three numbers, special character, three letters
  • Take a word and insert numbers and special characters in specific positions

Those are the basic components of your new password system. Even the simplest version is a fairly difficult password to crack. If you’re really security conscious you can make passwords stronger by:

  • Using both upper and lower case letters
  • Using more special characters
  • Making the way you combine them more complicated
  • Making them longer – the more characters you use the longer it takes to run a password cracking system against your password

Here are some SIMPLE examples to help you understand more clearly:

  • Convention:  first three letters, special character, three numbers
  • Password for Yahoo:  yah-824
  • Password for Google: goo-824
  • Password for Microsoft: mic-824

Even though these are very simple examples they are much more difficult to crack than commonly used passwords. I would recommend something a little more creative as someone who had one of these MIGHT be able to guess your pattern. Feel free to make your convention more complicated so it is even more secure.

The key is to make your password convention easy enough to remember and keep it consistent enough to actually use it. If you want really secure passwords make the convention complicated and write only the pattern down. If you change your passwords you can change your pattern and even write down the new pattern or even some notes and even if someone finds them they won’t be able to figure out your passwords.

TIPS:

  • Use a number you know and don’t write it down
  • Use a base word broken up by inserting your numbers and special characters into it
  • Use both upper and lower case letters

Here is an example of a very complex pattern written down in your own unique code:

  • Write down a12B%3c and no one will ever guess what your passwords are

So what does a12B%3c mean? Here is the translation:

  • You have three letters – say yah for Yahoo or goo for Google
  • You have three numbers – any three numbers you can remember
  • You have a special character – in this case the percent (%) sign
  • a is your first letter – make it lower case
  • B is your second letter – make it upper case
  • c is your third letter – make it lower case
  • Your numbers plug in where the 1, 2, and 3 are

If your number is 824, your passwords are:

  • Yahoo – y82A%4h
  • Google – g82O%4o
  • Microsoft – m82I%4c
  • US Counties – u82S%4c

While this may seem confusing at first, once you get used to it you’ll never be without a password as long as you can remember (or have with you) your pattern. Your passwords are strong and unique but as you move from site to site while working you’ll be able to recall what one you haven’t used in a long time is because it is similar to one you use every day.

WARNING: All passwords can be cracked with enough time, computer power, and motivation.  Using this convention idea is not as secure as using totally random passwords, especially if someone had access to more than one of your passwords and recognized your pattern.  How strong your password needs to be depends on what you’re securing.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

  • Eight Easy Steps to Total Password Protection
  • What is a Strong Password
  • Less Common Advice on Securing Your Passwords
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Gail Gardner

Small Business Marketing Strategist at GrowMap
Gail Gardner is the founder of GrowMap.com. She is a Small Business Marketing Strategist who mentors small businesses, bloggers, and freelancers. After 23 years in the field with IBM and 5.5 years managing AdWords accounts, her focus shifted to small business marketing strategy. GrowMap.com is listed by Cision as a Top 100 Site for Marketers and has received three Small Business Influencer Awards from Small Business Trends. Named by D&B a Top 50 SMB Influencer on Twitter, you can follow Gail @GrowMap and on LinkedIn.
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Filed Under: Privacy and Data Mining Tagged With: password conventions

Comments

  1. Harjeet says

    March 7, 2019 at 8:18 am

    Hi, thanks for providing this information. Remembering passwords is becoming a complex task because we all lots of online accounts. Creating a strong and rememberable password is another endevour, but password managers are very useful for this. Lastpass is great for storing and managing passwords.
    Harjeet would love you to read ..Free Netflix Account: 101% Working Ways To Get Netflix For Free!My Profile

    Reply
  2. learn Spanish online says

    June 5, 2013 at 6:05 am

    i used to make my passwords from my mother language so it is difficult that someone discover it ( my language is Arabic ). and also use something like numbers and ^%$#@* to make it more difficult

    Reply
  3. Danny says

    October 28, 2011 at 11:59 pm

    Wow, so complicated I imagine this is almost how a spy would make his/her password.
    I just use some random word with a number and a capital letter.
    (Maybe saying this here is not that smart haha, but then again, maybe it is different than I say.)

    I just have the bad habit of telling many friends my password if they need to access something. I only use 4 different passwords and when some place forces me to change my password then I change it into one of the other passwords and the next time they ask me to do it again I will change it back to the original. That way I can make a mistake and write the wrong password but always get the right password within the usual 3 chances.
    Danny would love you to read ..Poulan Pro PP446ET 8-Inch Gas Powered Pole Chain SawMy Profile

    Reply
    • growmap says

      November 1, 2011 at 9:17 am

      Hi Danny,

      While it may seem complicated, once you memorize your convention and use it you can remember your password for almost any site instantly which can come in handy if you need to access any account from a different computer for any reason.

      A random word with a number and capital letter can be a strong password especially if you put the number in the middle of the word somewhere so it is no longer a word that can be found in a dictionary but instead two non-sensical “words”. Even with your “hint” no one is likely to break your passwords.

      Reply
  4. wny says

    June 23, 2011 at 5:21 am

    Thank You for this!!can i share this to others?It will help them a lot!

    Reply
    • growmap says

      June 23, 2011 at 2:45 pm

      Yes, you can share the information.

      Reply
  5. David says

    May 23, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    These are very informative tips. I think I am going to have to change some of my passwords now.
    .-= David@Bissell Rug Cleaner´s last blog ..Bissell Spot Lifter =-.

    Reply
  6. Daniel says

    March 27, 2010 at 7:19 am

    A very interesting way to protect the safety of the software. In my case I forget to change the passwords, so I like those programs requiring a change after some time of use.

    Reply
  7. Admael says

    February 10, 2010 at 10:56 am

    Thanks for your tips, are really helpful for me. I should change most of my passwords

    Reply
  8. sam says

    November 22, 2009 at 12:43 pm

    really wonderfully written and excellent tips, i appreciate it that you shared so useful and helpful with the readers of this blog.

    Reply
  9. Internet Strategist says

    October 8, 2009 at 9:29 am

    Hi Mohammed,

    That is a good idea for those who speak another language but the same guidelines apply about not using words found in ANY dictionary. Your passwords may be more challenging for me but probably not for others who can write Arabic.
    .-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Evaluate Your AdWords Accounts =-.

    Reply
  10. George says

    May 30, 2009 at 10:57 am

    I have used many complicated passwords during the past and I always have a great success on forgetting them 🙂 . Right now every password I use I note it to a small piece of paper which I carry always with me.

    Reply
    • Internet Strategist says

      October 8, 2009 at 9:28 am

      Hi George,

      I sure hope you never lose that piece of paper! You do keep a backup copy somewhere?
      .-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..Social Networking is NOT Chat =-.

      Reply
  11. Lisa says

    May 15, 2009 at 11:46 am

    Thanks for sharing such a great information.

    Reply

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