Posted: 3/21/2007 1:56:58 PM EDT
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How do you come up with really solid passwords that you can remember? I've been trying to come up with some some ideas, and can't seem to. I'm obviously not asking for your passwords  just some ideas on creating some strong ones for disk encryption and even website log-ons. I think my main issue is incorporating symbols.
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I already dread when the computer tells me it's time to change my password. 
I'm telling you, some people use a lot of characters for their serious passwords. One guy on another forum said he uses a 35 character one! 
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Because I am a network admin, mine have to be 15+ characters. Here one way I create long passwords, since I am a hockey fan and quite a few players have long real funky names, I will combine their first & last name and player #. Ex. Viacheslav Fetisov #2 = V!@cH3S1avF3t!$0v#2 It takes me 3 or 4 days of having to type it in to remember it, I usually will write it down on paper and stuff it in my wallet so I can remember it for the first few days. |
| I have the same few passwords that I use for everything. (I know I know). That being said everything at work is PW protected and I have about 5-6 different username/password combo's at work alone. I have a piece of paper with all of em written down in my locker. One system in particular has some pretty stringent password requirements and you have to change your password every week. You also can't use any of the last 30 passwords you have used...BIG pain in the nuts. |
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The best system I have is to make up a fake word that is pronouncible, but isn't really a word. Something like "marwapone". Then stick a couple of numbers or symbols at the beginning and/or the end. It's a lot easier to remember than something like "klwnnrjtk". If you really want to get tricky, include an ascii symbol or two that can't be typed with the keyboard (at least not without using ALT codes). I personally don't bother, but it's a neat trick. A few can even fool keystroke loggers. |
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Smash hand on number pad several times. Copy results into calc.exe. Convert number series to hex. Change case on 1/2 of the alpha characters. Replace 2-4 of the numbers to special characters (@#$%, or whatever). Write down result set on post-it note and attach to monitor. |
Exactly why that's a bad system. If it's so difficult that it forces users to keep their passwords written down, then they have actually made it much less secure. Now all someone has to do is break into your locker. |
Easy to crack with a dictionary attack. |
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friend of mine has 3 passwords that he regularly uses they are each 15 character randomly generated alpha numeric they have no meaning what so ever. He just memorized them. now I on the other hand take one of my interests... find something extremely obscure that no one ever notices or cares about or has heard of. and make it alpha numeric ala leet speak and there you go |
Tell me something I don't already know. The good thing is my locker is behind no less than 5 locked doors, and the only people allowed through those doors unsupervised are other employee's, said employees have their own passwords to the system and there is absolutely NO need for them to try and jack mine. |