Passwords – How to make your password strong and easy to remember!

Alex — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:00:38 +0000

Below is a 6 step method to creating a strong, good quality, easy to remember password! Our method is easy to remember, just think the ‘S and 5 C’s’ method!

Sentence – Think of a personal sentence of phrase that you find really easy to remember, e.g. I have three pet rabbits and two budgerigars. This is known as a pass phrase.
Compatibility – Some systems, whether it be on the computer or online, may not allow spaces in your password. If the system you’re using does allow for spaces use the pass phrase from step one and move to step 4. If not then move to step3.
Conversion – If the system doesn’t allow for spaces convert the phrase. For example, take all the first letters from your pass phrase to make a word, e.g. ‘I have three pet rabbits and two budgerigars’ changes to ‘ihtpratb’.
Complicate things – Make the password harder to guess by varying between upper and lower case letters and throw in the odd number too. For example, your pass phrase could change from this ‘I have three pet rabbits and two budgerigars’ to ‘I hAvE 3 pEt RaBbItS aNd 2 BuDgErIgArS’ or your converted pass phrase could change from this ‘ihtpratb’ to ‘Ih3PrA2b’.
Characters – Now try to replace any words, letters or numbers with symbols and alternative characters. For example, your pass phrase could start as ‘I hAvE 3 pEt RaBbItS aNd 2 BuDgErIgArS’ and change to ‘! h@v£ 3 p£t R@BbIt$ & 2 BuDgEr!g@r$’ or your converted pass phrase could start as ‘Ih3PrA2b’ and change to ‘!h3Pr&2b’.
Check – Finally, check the strength of your password using the Windows Password Checker. The stronger the better!

Quick Tip – Phishing

Alex — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 08:00:59 +0000

In the past we have written about recognising spoof emails trying to acquire some form of personal information on you, whether it be from a hoax bank email or website, the problem is becoming much more common and serious. In September 2008 there were over 8,621 Phishing Sites/Emails found and verified. Our previous posts on this topic are:

Phishing – general advice to help you stay safe online

Advice on Hoax Virus Warning Emails

Quick Tip: Stopping Spam

Today we came across PayPals 3 Part Phishing Guide. We think that articles are well worth a look. They are primarily based on helping identify PayPal spoof emails, however much of the information applies to general spoof emails. The links below link to each Part of the Guide:

Part 1- Understanding Phishing

Part 2 – Recognizing Phishing

Part 3 – Fighting Phishing

With more and more phishing sites/emails being found each month we all need to be on our toes with what’s going on!

Safe Surfing!

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Passwords – How to make your password strong and easy to remember!

Quick Tip – Phishing