* The only safe place to keep a password is in your head or a locked safe, which only you know the combination to.
* Effective passwords need to be fairly long, but not so long that you can't remember them. Three-character passwords are too short.
* Use special characters, uppercase letters, and numerals in a logical manner. Here are some examples:
o Uppercase letters: Using uppercase letters in conjunction with lowercase letters will offer some protection if you have the functionality of "case sensitivity." You could then use the password "HeyYou", which is different from "heyyou". Adding uppercase letters adds a layer of complexity making passwords harder to crack.
o Special characters: Using special characters such as "#", or "%" also adds to complexity. Take the word "money", add the pound sign after it (money#) and you have a fairly effective password.
o Numerals: Using numerals also adds complexity to the mix. If your social security number is 123-45-6789, you can use the last four digits with an easily remembered word such as "money", making your password "money6789".
o Mnemonic phrases: If you're a phrase collector from movies or songs, you can take a great line and make it into a password. Let's say you're a Star Wars fan. You can take the phrase: "May the Force Be With You" and use the first character from each word to create the password "MTFBWY".
o Substitution: You can use a number or sign in substitution for a word. If you know that the "$" sign equals the word "money," then you can tie it into a password scheme such as "Ilove$". This is simple-to-remember password that is difficult to crack.
Example: 2*a0M1;gc`8 is the highly secured password.