Passwords are the most common means of authentication, but if you do not choose good passwords or keep them confidential, they are almost as ineffective as not having any password at all. Many systems and services have been successfully broken into due to the use of insecure and inadequate passwords. Some viruses and worms have exploited systems by guessing weak passwords. One good tip for creating a secure password is to use a combination of upper and lower case letters with numerals and symbols interposed that are not related to your birthday, social security number, etc. For example use “Il2pbb!” for I love to play basketball! This mnemonics device adds several layers of security ultimately decreasing your risk of becoming a victim.

Tune in next week for ways to protect your password.