Improve your passwords

If so, you’re not alone—most people do. Unfortunately, this makes it easy for hackers to break into sensitive accounts like your bank, once they know your Twitter password.

Don’t be an easy target for hackers. But, also, don’t complicate your life by using overly complex passwords like:

A$6vGj7*€Klm6!

Sure, it’s hard to guess, but it’s also impossible to remember and frustrating to type out.

Here’s a clever system to create passwords that are both secure and easy to remember. Start by choosing three random words, such as:

• Pug
• Celery
• Mop

You can combine these into a passphrase, like this:

Pug Celery Mop

This password is easy to remember and type. And if you picture a pug “smoking” a celery stalk like a cigar while using a mop to clean up a spill, it becomes even more memorable! Picture the pug in a bowler hat, in a busy office, scolding someone for making the mess.

This method is called a passphrase, and it’s a great way to create passwords that are hard to guess but easy to recall. You can even add spaces between words since spaces are valid characters in most password fields.

Want to make your password unique for each site? No problem. Just add a relevant word to your passphrase. For instance, if you’re creating a password for your American Express account, try:

Pug Celery Mop Amex

Or substitute “Mop” with “Amex” for:

Pug Celery Amex

This way, you create a simple, adaptable system that works for you, improving your passwords without making your life harder.

Take Control of Your Passwords

Passwords don’t need to be difficult to remember or type to be secure. By creating a system like this, you can improve your passwords and ensure they are both secure and convenient.

So why haven’t you heard of this trick before? Many security consultants want you to think password security is complicated so they can sell you their expensive solutions. But now you know better.