Password is the first line of defense for computer systems. Passwords have a long history as Richard E. Smith in his book on authentication uses the example of the pass-phrase “Open Sesame” in the tale of Ali Baba and forty thieves. In the tale, entry to a cave, in which treasure was hidden, was granted to those who knew the pass phrase.

Passwords are used for various purposes. Some of the more common uses include user level accounts, web accounts, email accounts, screen saver protection, and local router logins. There can be weak or strong depending upon how you implement the mechanism of authentication.

You can protect your password by implementing strong authentication techniques and by following simple rules below which are gathered from several sources and are used for improved password security.

• Use a password that is at least 8 characters long.
• Do not use user name as a password.
• Do not use any part of your name as a password.
• Do not use name of your family members or your beloved.
• Do not use car registration numbers, phone numbers, house and street number.
• Do not use consecutive numbers or letters in a series like (aaaaaaaa or 999999) as your password.
• Do not create a password from dictionary.
• Do not reveal passwords in an email.
• Do not say your password in front of others.
• Do not reveal a password to co-workers while on vacations.
• Do not share your password to even your friends.
• Do not use those words which are in any language slang or jargon.
• Do not use passwords that are identical to old one.
• Do not keep your passwords in text files on your computer.
• Create easy to remember but difficult to guess passwords.
• Create passwords that can not be related to you by someone else.
• Create a password using mixed case and use alphanumeric characters.
• Immediately change your password if there is a suspicion that a password might have compromised.
• Change your passwords in at-least every 3 months.
• Remember and follow all these rules. :)

In the end I would suggest you all to be well-aware about your passwords; don’t take it easy as if no one can guess your password. Don’t think like what if someone gets your password. Someone might be having bad intentions for you and it can turn out to be a nightmare. Always keep yourself updated about the guidelines published by security gurus as it is better to be safe then sorry. A forwarded SMS had this joke: ”We are good secret keepers; only the ones we tell them are not”. So beware about whom you reveal your passwords. I hope I taught you something. Be secure, feel secure!

The writer is ’Information Security Analyst’ at Digital Processing Systems, Inc. (DPS). He loves to read and write on security issues & current IT trends. His e-mail is rizwan.ahmad@d-p-s.com