Passwords or passwords are important things that protect our accounts and personal information. However, we often ignore the importance of creating strong passwords and instead create passwords that are easy for others to guess, especially criminals.
However, having a strong password is important and has several uses. According to Google, there are several uses for having a strong password, namely keeping personal information secure, protecting email, files, and other content, and preventing others from accessing your account.
How to create a strong password
Here are some steps for creating a strong password:
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Avoid predictable patterns
Avoid using easy-to-guess patterns like "123456" or "qwerty" in passwords. This pattern is commonly used and makes an easy target for attackers. Before creating a password, you can also see password patterns that are commonly used, so they are not the same as these common patterns.
You can also use regional languages or other foreign languages in creating passwords. For example, "Gato123Cat!" combines the word "gato" (cat in Spanish) with numbers and symbols.
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Use a combination of characters
Use a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols such as “@”, “#”, or “!”. Don't use words that are easy to guess or words that are in the dictionary.
You can use phrases that are easy to remember but difficult for others to guess. For example, "Saya Suka Makan Nasi Goreng." With these phrases, you can create a strong password by combining unique letters and characters into "54y45uk4M4k4nN4s!G0r3n6".
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Create a long password
Try to make the password you create consist of 12 characters or more. The longer the password, the harder it is for others to guess.
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Avoid personal information
Avoid using personal information such as name, address, place, and date as part of your password. This information can easily be found by others. You need to know that personal information should be confidential. If your personal information is leaked, it will be easy for criminals to guess the passwords you use on your important accounts.
- Avoid using the same password
Avoid using the same password for different accounts. For example, you already use the password "X" for a mobile banking account, so avoid using the same password for other financial application accounts.
Having the same password for several accounts can be dangerous. If a bad actor successfully hijacks one account, other accounts will be very easy to access and use for criminal acts or other irresponsible things.
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Use a password manager
Consider using a secure password manager such as Google Password Manager. It can help you suggest unique and strong passwords, reveal insecure passwords, and block unauthorized access.
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Enable two-factor authentication
Apart from creating a strong password combination, you can also enable two-factor authentication if the service or platform you use provides it. This adds an extra layer of security by requesting a verification code via another device, mobile number, email, or authentication app in addition to a password.
Those are some ways to create a strong password that you can implement. There are still several things you need to do after creating a strong password, which is maintaining the confidentiality of the password by storing it in a safe place that is not easily accessible to people and not just giving the password to other people.
You also need to periodically, for example, change your password every 3-6 months to avoid piracy or illegal access to your important account. That way, you can improve and maintain the security of your important accounts.
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