Internet

Passwords are necessary when accessing a computer system or just simply browsing the web. Whether you use online banking or stock trading, a strong password can mean the difference between a secure account or an invitation to hackers.

It is highly recommended that you use a passphrase instead of a password. Passphrases are usually longer then the traditional password and add an additional layer of safety since they cannot be easily guessed by an intruder.  
The use of a good passphrase can enhance the safety of all your online accounts and computer systems.

It is also recommended that you use a different password for each website you have an account for. You should never reuse your email password when signing up for any account online such as banking or stock trading.

Creating Passphrases

To create a passphrase, take an expression such as “you can't teach an old dog new tricks." Use the first letter of each word of the sentence in the password. In this example, the password would contain yctaodnt, then add a numeral, special character, and capitalization to get 4ycTaodnT!.

You may also use a favorite quote as your passphrase such as BruceWillisismyhero. Add a few numbers, change the letters to number, or add some special characters and you will have created a passphrase that is almost impossible to guess, BruceW1ll1s1smyher0!. Not too hard to remember yet very tough for someone to break.

Additional Resources

Several free and paid for services can assist you in managing your passphrases.

• KeyPass - http://keepass.info/
• LastPass - http://lastpass.com/

Cox does not endorse or support these products. These are only references to available products allowing you to manage multiple passphrases from a single location. Support for these programs are handled by the respective software manufacturers.

You can view the following sites for additional information.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passphrase
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Password_strength