Security in Passwords

I spoke with a Network administrator at a school district a few days ago and he was having trouble with passwords being strong enough for the staff. He could not relay a way for them to get good passwords that were hard to crack so he asked me for some help in conveying the message and in coming up with a better way for them to do their passwords.

I creates this alphabet for him and I thought I'd share the idea so everyone can get an idea on  how to avoid having cracked passwords.

Security Alphabet

A = @

B = B

C = (

D = D

E = 3

F = F

G = &

H = #

i = !

J = ]

K = {

L = 1

M = M

N = N

O = 0(zero)

P = ?

Q = %

R = R

S = $

T = +

U = U

V = ^

W = W

X = *

Y = Y

Z = >

For passwords to be secure, you want something you can remember but also something that cannot be looked up in a dictionary.

Create a phrase you can remember:

“Pigs are good” then change the phrase to the security alphabet.

?!&$R&00d

Then you know it can’t be cracked from a dictionary attack.

If you need a longer phrase, then create one:

His socks are smelly

#!$$0({$R$m311y

Or break it up and modify it:

H1$$0ck$R$m311y

I hope this helps you to develop your own password strategy, and remember.... You should change it often.

Brett Hill, CWNE#147