Skip nav to main content.

Secure Password Tips

Picking a secure password is one of the most important things you can do to protect your online privacy. A good password should be:

  •     Known only to you
  •     Long enough to be secure
  •     Hard to guess -- even by someone who knows you well
  •     Easy for you to remember and type accurately
  •     Passwords should be changed periodically, usually every three to six months

What NOT To Use

  •     Don't use your first or last name in any form (as-is, reversed, capitalized, etc.)
  •     Don't use your spouse's or child's name
  •     Don't use your pet's name
  •     DON'T use a password shorter than six characters
  •     Don't use other information easily obtained about you. This includes license plate, telephone or social security numbers, the name of the street you live on, etc.
  •     Don't use a password of all digits, or all the same letter

What TO Use

  •     A password with mixed-case alphabetics
  •     A password that includes numbers as well as letters
  •     A password that is easy to remember, so you don't have to write it down