Pro-Tips for Proper Passwords

Identity theft is one of the world’s fastest growing crimes, but having a strong password can prevent it.

(Ergo, don’t use “password” as your password.)

Dr. Kevin Hamlen, an associate professor of computer science at UTD, said poor password habits are common. He recommends using a passphrase, whether you’re protecting your email, bank account or social media.

“Choose a passphrase or partial sentence that has a unique meaning to you, that has a natural mix of spaces, symbols and mixed-case letters, making them harder for hackers to crack,” Hamlen said. “Just make sure it has a personal meaning so you remember it.”

You can also use nonsense phrases, add spaces or change letters to numbers to create something more difficult for a hacker to guess.