3 Tips for Working with Complex Passwords

 IntroductionWhen creating strong passwords, it's often recommended to make them 8 - 10 characters long with lower case, upper case and numeric values and sometimes special characters. This is really good, but when it comes to remembering these letter-number combinations, it can be like solving a complicated mathematical equation and remembering the answer.Sometimes, we try to play it smart and use a password generator. These tools create nice, strong passwords. When you click the generate button, you get something like: '9hhk8-y55%.af.' These kind of passwords are impossible to remember.So, here are my 3 tips for working with complex passwords. 1. Create Using Your Own LogicWhen you need a strong password that's be easy to remember, why not use a little logic? The logic can be meaningful for you, but useless to others. For example, let's use my name 'usman'  as a password. After applying my own system, I convert it to 'U$m@N'. With this simple, logic-based technique, the new password is really strong. This method is fairly easy and workable. 2. Store Using A Password Manager Password managers are software that securely store login information through encryption. But, a problem may be locating software that can be trusted for storing sensitive information.I found a tool called KeePass, available here. It's a free, open source, lightweight and easy-to-use password manager for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and Android mobile devices. KeePass puts all your passwords in a highly encrypted database and locks them with one master key or a key file. This makes it effective for storing sensitive information. Check it out!There are many other password managers on the market as well. Read reviews, talk to trusted friends and make the best choice for your needs and budget. 3. Store Using an Tried and True MethodIf you don't want to use the methods above, just grab a piece of paper and write all your passwords on it. Then, hide the paper in a secure place.Some of you might be questioning my sanity at this moment, but trust me: 'Old Is Gold.' If you hide the paper properly, no one can locate it. When you need to check a login for a specific site, refer to the paper. ConclusionThere are several methods to creating and storing passwords; everyone has their own. I've shared my opinions and hope they've been helpful. For support, suggestions or questions, email me at 'usmanaura47@gmail.com' Written By Malik Usman Aura