How do you create, manage and secure your passwords? Well, it’s easy. Yep it really is…

You want to know the secret?

Write passwords down and keep them in your wallet or purse.

No, I haven’t taken leave of my senses. It is, in fact, what major security expert Bruce Schneier suggests in his blog. The issue is simple:

• You need a different password for every account
• Your passwords need to be complex – and are therefore hard to remember

For everyone who only has a few passwords, writing them down and storing them somewhere you are used to keeping secure – your wallet – is a no brainer. Sticking them to your monitor on a Post-It-Note isn’t.

If you have lots of passwords to manage, then this becomes a hopeless solution – but never fear, password manager software is your friend. Products like Lastpass, Keepass, etc are now fully mature products, that can secure hundreds of passwords using a single master password – which is all you have to remember.

Moreover, this solution allows you to use very  strong passwords, simply because  you don’t have to rely on your memory. E.g:

PZZZCv*skCVsv$pR3G#I

Passwords like this are ideal, because they are long and complex – but try and remember 5 of these and you’ll need a photographic memory and excellent typing skills!

For further information about passwords, creating, securing and remembering, see our help topics here.