Nearly every website you log into, whether it is social media or a banking site, or even the places you most frequently shop online requires a password. Sometimes, those passwords can be simple, but often they are complex and have specific requirements about their length and the kind of characters that must be included.
The problem comes with remembering them. There are programs that will help you, programs like LastPass, a password locker that contains all of your passwords and must be opened by a single master password. The advantage of this type of program is that with a browser plugin enabled, you won’t have to type your passwords for everything over and over.
The downside is that you can’t lose your master password, or you will be hard pressed to recover your other passwords. You also don’t want this to be a duplicate of one of your other passwords, because if someone were able to access your password vault, they would have access to every website you have a password saved on.
Remembering what password goes with what can be a problem though, so there are a few tricks to keeping them in the front of your memory yet making sure your information is secure as well.
Use a Series of Initials
One way to make your passwords memorable is to use a series of initials that you are familiar with or can easily remember. The beauty of this is you can arrange the initials in a way that is difficult to guess even if someone knows your family.
For instance, you can use you, your spouse, and your children’s initials in various order and containing or not containing middle names, suffixes, maiden names, and more. The possibilities are various, and guessing them can be difficult at best.
Additionally, if you add pet names, nicknames, and other initials only you will be familiar with, someone would have to either know you intimately and guess at how you have formed your passwords, or somehow crack that information. To most people it would look like a random collection of letters, but to you it would be memorable.
Integrate Familiar Numbers
Let’s say the password you are creating requires numbers. You can integrate them with your initials password, or any other password you are creating by simply adding them to the beginning, end, or even the middle.
For instance, after or before every initial, you could add in the birth year of one or more of the source of the initials. Something like JK1973LC1996 or something similar. If you have to have both upper and lowercase letters, you can just choose what to capitalize, as long as you will remember what you decided.
You don’t even have to use birth year. Your birthdate is a bad idea, and one that is easily guessed, but other significant dates that are not as well-known can be another way to make your password both memorable and secure.
Add Symbols on the End When Needed
Uppercase, lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol are all common password requirements. Adding a symbol on the end of one of the other passwords you have created is a good way to keep them memorable but fulfilling the requirement itself.
Commonly, you should simply choose a symbol you insert when required, and remember that one symbol. Varying where it is placed is a good idea, but many people simply add it on the end of their password. Whether you choose a question mark, exclamation mark, or some other less common symbol, adding one generally does make your password more secure.
Use Acronyms
Don’t want to use initials? There are other options. There are probably a ton of acronyms you use in your job or even unique ones you use with your family that you can integrate into your passwords, even combining them creatively with initials and numbers.
This is a common way to keep passwords straight as well. You can use an acronym, but add an element to the password that tells you which site it is for. For instance, you could use GWWJD for Google and OWWJD for Outlook, letting the first letter tell you what site it is for.
The trick is to not use acronyms that are too common and can be guessed based on your profession, religion, or other common facts people might know about you. Still, when integrated with numbers, symbols, and other letters, you can create a great and memorable password pretty easily.
Use Word Association Tricks
Sometimes the trick is not remembering your password, but remember what password goes to what site. Besides the first letter trick above, you can also use word association games to remember what password goes with what site. The arrangement of the initials you use can be unique to each site, and a simple word association can help you keep them straight.
Keeping your data secure is important, and having a unique password makes that possible, but sometimes keeping track of all of your passwords can be much more than just challenging, it can be frustrating. Use these tips to create both memorable and secure passwords that will protect you and your data.