Consumer Protection: The Perfect Password

Air Date:
Heard On The Larry Meiller Show

On-line security is important, and having a good password is key. Larry Meiller finds out how to create the best password, how often to change it, and how to safely store them. Plus, information on current scams to watch out for.

Featured in this Show

  • How Strong Are The Passwords You Use Online?

    When creating passwords for websites and computer programs, just remember: Easy-to-remember passwords are often the least secure.

    “Passwords are like keys to your personal home online,” said Sandy Chalmers. “So, you should do everything you can to prevent people from gaining access to your passwords.”

    Chalmers, who directs the Bureau of Consumer Protection in the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, said that the most basic consideration in how good a password is “is how long is it, and how strong is it.”

    Here are some of the criteria the Bureau of Consumer Protection lists for what makes a strong password:

    • Has at least eight characters.
    • Doesn’t contain your user name, real name, or company name.
    • Doesn’t contain a complete word.
    • Is significantly different from previous passwords.

    The bureau also advises using characters from each of the following four categories, used in varying combinations:

    Character categoryExamples
    Uppercase lettersA, B, C
    Lowercase lettersa, b, c
    Numbers0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
    Symbols found on the keyboard` ~ ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) _ – + = { } [ ] \ | : ; ” ‘ < > , . ? /

    Chalmers added that a strong password “should be something unique to your life” and should not be something easily guessed. Chalmers also said that passwords have a shelf life and changing them frequently adds another layer of security.

    “A password really is your first defense against intrusion,” she said.

    While it can be a lot to manage, Chalmers said that it is advisable to have a different password for each different website or account a person uses. In other words, a strong password becomes less strong when it’s used on a half-dozen different websites.

    “Why would you want to make it easy for an identity thief who guesses one of your passwords to immediately have access to all of your accounts?” she said.

    For those who do make sure to use different passwords for each site, make their passwords complex, and change their passwords often, it can be tough to keep track of all those different combinations. Chalmers said that while storing passwords remotely online — like in Google docs, Dropbox or a similar programmight seem convenient, there are risks. Chalmers, for example, pointed to recent cloud security breaches that have made the news. “We all know how awry that can go,” she said.

    Chalmers said that instead, going low-tech for high-tech security is actually a good idea. She recommended writing passwords down and storing them safely — in other words, not in a wallet or pinned next to the computer.

Episode Credits

  • Larry Meiller Host
  • Judith Siers-Poisson Producer
  • Michelle Reinen Guest
  • Sandy Chalmers Guest