What is password strength?

According to WikiPedia:

How to create a Strong Password?

We all know the common guidelines for choosing a strong password:

• Include numbers, symbols, upper and lowercase letters
• Password should be more than 8 characters long.
• Avoid any password based on repetition, dictionary words, letter or number sequences, usernames, relative or pet names, or biographical information (birth day).

Now the problem with creating random strong passwords are that they are very hard to remember. So once you start having to memorize a number of them it gets virtually impossible to keep them all memorized. There are a few tricks that you can follow to create strong memorable passwords. I learned one strong and memorable password creation trick last week that I am going to share in this post.

The Password Phrase method

The phrase method is an easy way to remember complicated passwords that are hard to crack.

1. Use the Phrase Method:
2. Choose a phrase that has numbers.
3. Use only the first letter in each word.
4. Use the proper case for each letter, just as it appears in the phrase.
5. Use actual numbers whenever possible. Use “2″ for “two” or “to” and “4″ for “four” or “for.”
6. Include punctuation.

Lets take the following phrase as an example:

Using the Password Phrase method explained above, the password becomes:

Don’t remember the password, just remember the phrase.

You can see that this Password abides by the Strong Password Creation rule and it is also easy to remember!

You can even use a phrase as the password if the system allows you to enter a phrase. For example the following phrase will make a strong password.

I prefer to go to bed by 10:00!

Some General Password/Security tips

• Avoid using dictionary words in any language
• Avoid sequences or repeated characters
• Change your password on a schedule.
• Do not allow Internet Explorer to store passwords.
• Do not type passwords on computers that you do not control.
• Never provide your password over e-mail.
• Never respond to an email asking for personal information (Banks will never ask you for your personal information in an email).
• Patch and update the softwares you use on a regular basis.
• Use caution when opening email attachments.
• Limit the amount of personal information you post about yourself.

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Friends and family members frequently assume that if you are home, you are available. Nothing can set your work back hours, faster than an unplanned visit from your mother. Setting clear boundaries regarding your schedule and availability for phone calls and visits can prevent misunderstandings early on in the life of your business.

If you are choosing to keep your small children home with you while you work, that carefully planned schedule can quickly become fodder for your three year old. Getting up early is often the best way to increase your productivity while those little angels are still slumbering away.

Having a contingency plan for days when the work load requires more attention than usual is an excellent way to head off disasters before they happen. Find local babysitters who are willing to come to your home to help out when needed. Recruit friends and family to provide occasional entertainment for short periods of time to allow you to work without interruptions. Anything that helps you keep focused is a good investment in preserving your sanity.

Running a business from your home has a few perks, especially at tax time. Consulting with a tax expert or accountant early on will arm you with the knowledge necessary to save you time and money when filing your first year’s business taxes.

Finding service providers that are both competent and trustworthy is a lesson in perseverance. The business directories, internet advertisements and even newspaper ads are clogged with scams and incapable providers. Seeking the advice of a seasoned home business veteran can be your salvation. Word of mouth will reveal strengths and problems with service providers.

If you find that you have chosen poorly and end up with a full sized, ten year old copier in your den instead of that sleek, all-in-one model with all the bells and whistles that you paid for, don’t despair. Don’t back down either. You can explain your dissatisfaction firmly and politely while explaining that the services were not acceptable. If after bringing the blunder to the business’ attention, you are still left feeling cold, you can report the offender to the Better Business Bureau: and call for legal advice.

Using good old common sense, a little street smarts and a lot of charm and honesty will help your achieve your business goals, while allowing you to keep your sanity and your home life intact.

Written by Ricco Richardson

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