Creating Complex Passwords

Use the following tips to create complex passwords:

ÂÂ Use a mix of alphabetic (upper and lower case), numeric, and special characters (such as ! and @).

ÂÂ Don’t use words or combinations of words found in a dictionary of any language.

ÂÂ Don’t append a number to an alphabetic word (for example, “wacky2”) to fulfill the constraint of having a number.

ÂÂ Don’t substitute “look alike” numbers or symbols for letters (for example, “GR33N” instead of “GREEN”).

ÂÂ Don’t use proper names. ÂÂ Don’t use dates.

ÂÂ Create a password of at least 12 characters. Longer passwords are generally more secure than shorter passwords.

ÂÂ Use passwords that can’t be guessed even by someone who knows you and your interests well.

ÂÂ Create as random a password as possible.

You can use Password Assistant (located in /System/Library/CoreServices) to verify the complexity of your password.

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Chapter 4    Enhancing Security

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Apple 10.6 manual Creating Complex Passwords