Your passwords are the keys you use to access personal information that you've stored on your computer and in your online accounts.

If criminals or other malicious users steal this information, they can use your name to open new credit card accounts, apply for a mortgage, or pose as you in online transactions. In many cases you would not notice these attacks until it was too late.

Fortunately, it is not hard to create strong passwords and keep them well protected.

• For each computer and service you use (e-mail, chatting, online purchasing, for example), you should have a password.
• You shouldn’t write them down nor should you share them with anyone, even your best friends.
• Computer intruders use trial-and-error, or brute-force techniques, to discover passwords.
• Use alphanumeric characters and special characters in your password. EG:d81422w/.
• The length of password should be as long as possible (More than 8 characters).
• Do not write it to some place where it is visible to someone else.
• Maintain security and reduce vulnerability: use strong passwords. Weak passwords increase your vulnerability to hackers and intruders, and increase the chances of identity theft. Strong passwords are critical for computer security.

  : Avoid Weak Passwords :

Easily obtained information, such as:

* Address, ID card
* License plate numbers, Favorite number.
* Telephone numbers, Mobile.
* Credit card or ATM numbers.
* Social Security or Social Insurance numbers.
* Email addresses.

Create a strong, memorable password in 6 steps

Use these steps to develop a strong password:

1. Think of a sentence that you can remember.
2. Check if the computer or online system supports the pass phrase directly.
3. If the computer or online system does not support pass phrases, convert it to a password.
4. Add complexity
5. Finally, substitute some special characters.
6. Use more than one password everywhere.
7. Avoid using online storage.

Read Creating stronger passwords -- Microsoft Article


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