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With the internet becoming an essential part of our daily lives, we store an increasing amount of our personal information online. To keep our online accounts safe, choosing a secure password is crucial. But what makes a strong, secure password?
In this article, we will guide you through choosing a safe password, using (or not using) iCloud Keychain, and managing your passwords on your Mac effectively.
How to Select a Good Password
A good password should be hard to guess, both by people and computers. Security experts suggest that a stable password should have 8-14 characters, comprising uppercase and lowercase letters, punctuation, and a number. It should be easy to remember and difficult to guess.
There are several methods to generate passwords, such as using an algorithm or password generator, using deliberate misspellings of words or inventing words, or using a password manager.
Things to Avoid
Personal information like your date of birth, phone number, or social security number is easy to guess for hackers with access to the internet. Avoid using names of family members or loved ones as login credentials.
Passwords vs. Passphrases
A passphrase is a string of words separated by a space, which meets the criteria of a good password. Using passphrases in place of passwords is better because they provide complex and unique passwords, which are easy to remember and type. Passphrases are recommended for online accounts and applications.
How to Keep Your Passwords Safe
Even the strongest passwords or passphrases can become useless if not managed correctly. Avoid sharing your password with anyone or using public systems to log in to your accounts. Change your password regularly (after every three to six months) and do not reuse them.
Should You Use Apple’s iCloud Keychain?
iCloud Keychain is a free option that Apple provides to store and sync usernames, passwords, and credit card information across all Apple devices. It provides industry-standard encryption, making it one of the safest options available for online security. It only supports Safari and has no third-party compatibility.
Password Managers: Are They Right for You?
If you have several accounts or sign up on a frequent basis, password managers could be useful. They provide more advanced features than iCloud Keychain, such as full browser compatibility, cross-platform compatibility, password auditing, sensitive document storage, and group options.
LastPass, OneSafe, 1Password
Password management is essential, and there are several options available for you, including LastPass, OneSafe, or 1Password. Each has various benefits and drawbacks, as pointed out in our detailed review (see the list below).
FAQs
1. How frequently should I change my password?
It is recommended to change password every 3-6 months to maintain online security.
2. Do password managers offer browser compatibility?
Yes, password managers like 1Password integrate with various browsers, providing more browsing flexibility.