Passwords are the cloak-and-dagger part of the network business because keeping out unauthorized folk is a security focus for most institutions. Passwords are also the bane of both network users and administrators, and here's why.
The administrator wants you, the user, to change your password frequently in case other people discover it and use it, to refrain from writing it down, and to choose something that's hard for other people to guess. On the other hand, you, the user, want an easy-to-remember password that never has to be changed. Those two different goals can create a slight conflict, but not one that's impossible to deal with.
A good password is
At least six characters long
A mix of lowercase and uppercase characters, with at least one non-alphabetic character
Bad passwords are
Your name or initials
Names or initials of family members
Your dog's name or initials
Your birth date or the birth date of a family member
A variation on your username
Your phone number or phone numbers of friends or family
Popular obscenities — even when spelled backwards.
One good method is to turn a catch phrase or family joke into an acronym. For example, pick a password like Wk?Wc?, which only you know is short for "Who knows? Who cares?" Or do the same with a song or a book title. (Don't use the title of the book that's on your desk next to the computer.)
Passwords, unlike usernames and filenames, are always case-sensitive. If your password is Wk?Wc? and you type in WK?WC?, the password won't be recognized.
On a network, overall password policy is set by the administrator. So passwords may be required to have a minimum length, and you may have to change your password at regular intervals.
my passwords are
**********
long
I choose a new password for every password, not having a set password for everything you do
Windows XP Help also has some suggestions for creating Stong Passwords.
Either open Windows Help (click Start, Help and Support) and type
"Creating Strong Passwords" in the Search box, or paste this URL into
an Internet Explorer (only) address bar:
its:C:\WINDOWS\Help\password.chm::/windows_password_tips.htm
According to that info, passwords should be at least 7 characters
long...
:D
![Christo [PCD]](/thumb.php?src=%7Be_AVATAR%7Dupload%2Fap_1_newavav4.jpg&aw=100&ah=100)
![Morgue[FLB]](/thumb.php?src=%7Be_AVATAR%7Dupload%2Fap_59_morgueflb.png&aw=100&ah=100)