How to Create a Strong Password for your Email Account

A good and a strong password is that which you can remember over and over without writing it down. When it comes to creating a strong password, there are few tips and advice that we’re all aware of and should follow to avoid any mishandling of our email accounts. Reiterating them below for your reference for creating a new password.

Tips for creating a strong password:

It should be minimum of 12 characters long
Include numbers, symbols, capital letters, and lowercase letters
Avoid common substitutions
Don't use keyword paths

Make sure you choose a password that’s long enough, which makes it harder for hackers to guess. At least one of your characters should be either a number or symbol, or both. Using a mix of numbers, symbols, and capital and lowercase letters make it even stronger. Do not use common words, proper names, or personally identifiable words or numbers as a password (i.e., nicknames, birthdates, name of spouses or children, or other personal information) that someone may easily guess.

Make your password memorable for you

Now that you know the tips and elements of a strong password, let’s make it memorable. Below is one way that may help you to create one. Of course, you may use any other method you feel comfortable with, as long as it results in a good password.

Use a passphrase

A passphrase is a phrase that means something to you, but that is intermixed with other symbols, numbers, and letter variations.

For instance, let’s say you think of three things currently in your purse or backpack, and turn them into your password. That would be something like L!p$tickKey$W@ll3t. That would be lipstick, keys, wallet. This is a super strong password, if I do say so myself, and it would be tough for a hacker to guess.

Or maybe you want it to be a variation of your favorite song, album title, or band. This could look like P3@cH3s, which translates in my brain to the song ‘Peaches’.

Or Take a phrase from a novel, a song, or a play, such as “To be or not to be, that is the question.” Take the first letter of each word: t b o n t b t i t q and replace the letter “o” with “0” (zero); replace the second “t” with a number “2” (so “to be” becomes “2b”), giving: t b 0 n 2 b t i t q

These are a few examples of good and strong passwords. You could apply it personally for your passwords; use a phrase that you know and will remember. Be as creative as you can be! Create a strong password to stay protected from cybercrimes.

Guidance for Password Lifetime

Change your password often - 90 days is the maximum period you should go without changing passwords. Some security experts say “change your password every time you buy a new toothbrush!”
Specific systems in SVV will have their own rules for password lifetimes.
When you change your password, the new password must not be too similar to the old password. Don’t use the same letters to start or end it, or the same numbers in the middle.