Password Havoc

How many emails do you use? Probably two, if not at least one email, facebook, MySpace, delicious, linkedIn and have a twitter ID too.You might also have your own website to remember ftp ID or Content Management System ID to update your website and your company has assigned you some login details. You certainly use net banking; credit cards, debit cards, probably some shopping gift cards and also think about health/home/car loans and insurance accounts. All of these need passwords or PINs (Personal Identification Number).

How frequently do you use them? Certainly not all them every day. What happens when you try to access after a week or sometimes a month later? Suddenly can't remember all or meshed one with another, right? Result inaccessibility or resetting and many more. How easy do you feel to remember all of those? You might be using your browser (Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explore, Google Chrome etc) or other third party software to store and remember passwords for you. How reliable are they? Do you trust them? What happens when security of your system is compromised or that application crashes? Definitely you will be at risk to loose your valuable information or big $s in that situation. So, treat your passwords/PINs as valuable assets and handle them carefully. Here, I've some idea to take care of them.

Some Tips to handle Passwords/PINs and consider while online:

• It's always good to memorize all your passwords/PINs and not to expose or share with anyone in any condition.
• Do not store them in your wallet or save them in your mobile phone or in a separate file.
• You can develop certain logic for remembering them. However, always use separate password for your individual accounts. Do not use same password for all the accounts.
• Avoid easily predictable Keywords or numbers which have very significance in your life. Example- name of your loved ones, birthdays, anniversaries, your favorite things etc are easily predicted.
• Create in combination of characters, numbers, symbols (special characters) and some CAPS locks. Example: p@55w0rD
•  Maintain password length of at least of 6 to 8 combined characters as above
• Change your passwords at lease twice in a year
• Browse your web sites through https where possible especially when there is an online transaction like in online shoppings, online fund transfers. Example: Yahoo mail / https://www.my.commbank.com.au/netbank/Logon/Logon.aspx 
• Do not share all your private information in social networking sites 
• Check security certificates(Veri Sign, Go Daddy, TRUSTe) logo(s) on the website while transacting through it.
• Install and keep updated Anti-virus, Anti-Trojan, Anti-spam software(Norton, McAfee, AVG etc) on your computer system