Tips for secure passwords

What do Facebook, online banking, and email have in common? They require passwords that users log in with and use to “identify” themselves for the service. After cyber attacks, the question of secure passwords arises more frequently.

How to set a secure password
Most services already have their own rules regarding password security. Common requirements include character length, the use of upper and lower case letters, and the use of (certain) special characters.

Ideally, a secure password should contain the following elements:

• At least 8 characters long
• Combine upper and lower case letters
• Include numbers
• Use special characters

Many password requirements and still easy to remember
The requirements for a secure password can seem intimidating at first glance. But with a simple trick, the password is easy to remember. The trick is to use a sentence that is easy to remember. The password is derived from this using the first letters.

Moritz has 2 children, 1 dog, and 2 cats.
This results in the following password: Mh2c,1d&2c — difficult to guess and easy to remember, right?

Tips for handling passwords
Everyone has multiple accounts, for example, in online shops, social networks, and banks. These usually contain very sensitive data. We recommend the following TIPS:

1. ***Do not write down passwords***
   A password should never be written down on paper or, even worse, stuck to the computer or screen.
2. ***Do not store passwords unencrypted on the hard drive***
   Better: Use a password app.
3. ***Private passwords***
   No bank or other reputable company will ever ask you to disclose your login details.
4. ***Only you should know the answers to security questions***
   Do not use information that can be easily found on social networks.
5. ***Passwords should not consist of names or words***
   This also includes words that have been used backwards or from other languages. The password “password” is one of the most popular passwords.
6. ***Set a different password for each site.***
   Each service should have its own password. This way, if you lose a password, the damage and effort involved in changing your login details can be kept to a minimum.