The world is a dangerous place. No, I'm not talking about walking barefoot into a gas station bathroom (although, yeah, don't do that either). I'm talking about the internet—a vast, wild jungle filled with more cyber thugs than a John Wick sequel. And what's the only thing standing between them and your bank account, your Instagram DMs, or that secret Pinterest board you've been curating for years? A PASSWORD.
But let’s face it, the most popular passwords out there are still embarrassingly predictable. If you’re using “password123” or “ilovecats” or even “abc123,” you’re basically leaving your digital front door wide open with a sign that says, “Come on in! Free snacks!” It’s time to up your password game with some serious strategies that even the most skilled hackers will have to bow down to. And we’re going to do it with some style.
1. The Password Paradox: Easy to Remember, Easy to Break
Here’s the kicker: the easier your password is to remember, the easier it is to break. This is known as the Password Paradox. We all want something simple that sticks in our brain like a catchy song lyric, but those are exactly the kind of passwords hackers adore. Think about it—“password123” is just begging for a cyber attack. On the flip side, a password that’s hard to break—full of random letters, numbers, and symbols—ends up being just as hard for you to remember. It’s like trying to recall the Wi-Fi password at a friend’s house.
But don’t worry, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve to help you navigate this paradox, so you can have your cake and eat it too (or at least, keep your accounts safe and sound).
2. Mnemonic Madness: Because 'P@55w0rd!' Isn't Cutting It
Creating a secure password should be like crafting the perfect tweet—short, memorable, and packed with meaning. One way to do this is by using a mnemonic device. No, this isn’t some ancient Greek god of memory; it’s a trick to help you remember things. Here’s how it works: Take a sentence you know by heart, and use the first letter of each word to form your password.
Example: Think of a sentence like, “Terry Burke writes amazing blogs that will change your life forever.”Now, grab the first letter of each word: TBwabtwcylf.
Add a sprinkle of special characters and numbers for flavor: TBwabtwcylf! 2024.Congratulations, you now have a password that sounds like a top-secret government project but is actually just a reflection of your fandom for yours truly.
3. Diceware: When You Want to Roll the Dice (But Not on Your Security)
If you prefer a more methodical approach, let’s talk about Diceware. No, it's not a cool new streetwear brand—it’s a system that turns your dice-rolling habit into a password-creating superpower. Here’s the deal: You roll a set of four dice (or one die, four times if you’re into delayed gratification), and the resulting numbers correspond to a word list. String together 4 or 5 random words, and voila! You’ve got yourself a password.
Example: Go to the Diceware generator website (https://diceware.dmuth.org/), and select the number of dice rolls and then click roll dice. If you selected 4 Dice rolls you'll get 4 words like “plush,” “blaze,” “swarm,” and “gravy.” String them together and you've got a password like "plushblazeswarmgravy."
Sure, it sounds like the weirdest dinner party theme ever, but it’s also surprisingly hard to hack. And since it’s actual words, it’s way easier to remember than a string of random characters that look like a cat walked across your keyboard.
4. Passphrases: Because Length Does Matter
Let’s clear something up: Size matters. When it comes to passwords, the longer, the better. A passphrase is essentially a password on steroids. Instead of a single word or random numbers, you use a string of random (or semi-random) words.
Example: Think of four random words: "Starbucks Dinosaur Bicycle Banana."Now, imagine them all together: "StarbucksDinosaurBicycleBanana!". Add a little capitalization and a special character, and now it’s not only fun to say but almost impossible for hackers to guess—unless they're a caffeine-loving, prehistoric cycling primate. And if that’s the case, we’ve got bigger problems.
Bottom Line: Stop Letting Hackers Have All the Fun.
So, what have we learned today? First, your current password probably sucks (sorry, tough love). Second, creating a strong password doesn’t have to feel like brain surgery. Whether you’re using mnemonic tricks or rolling dice like a Vegas high roller, the key is to make your passwords both strong and memorable.
Because at the end of the day, protecting your data is like flossing—nobody wants to do it, but if you don’t, things get ugly fast. So start today. Make your passwords so strong they could bench press a car. And let’s keep the hackers crying into their keyboards, where they belong.
Terry Burke CFP®
Trader Wealth Management
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