Have you ever had to create a new password somewhere and forgotten it before you saved it? Or have you had trouble creating a password long enough, so that it says “strong”? Or had so many different passwords you couldn’t remember them all?

Passwords are a part of everyday life at this point. Many people have a list of passwords (which is not very secure, unless within a password manager). We need to learn the best ways to set and recall passwords. The real trick to a great password is the length! Passwords of 16 characters or less are crack-able, with the right tools. Using a password of more than 17 characters will protect your accounts from being hacked. Here is one method that makes setting passwords easier.

There are four simple steps to creating a strong password: Í

1. Root word selection: Pick a 7-letter word, make it non-predictable for you. If you like cats, don’t use ‘kittens’. Do not use your name, or your child's name or your favorite Sport Team name. Use something eclectic like octopus or sandbox. Never reveal your “root” word to anyone. Once you have chosen your root word, decide which letter you will consistently capitalize, it doesn’t have to be the first letter.
2. Numbers and special characters: Note that on your keyboard all the number keys have a corresponding character on them. (When using the shift key you get the special characters):       1=!; 2=@, 3=#, 4=$, and so on.
3. Password creation: Let’s create a password: For this example, I’ll use the root word “sandbox”, and I’ve decided to always capitalize the ‘X’. Start with a single number, type your root word, with one letter capitalized, then the special character that corresponds to the number. For mine it may be 1sandboX!. These nine characters comprise half of your password. The second half starts with a number and ends with the corresponding special character, like 2sandboX@. Run the two sections together to create an 18-character password: 1sandboX!2sandboX@. Easy to remember! Just remember: NEVER reveal your chosen root word to anyone.
4. Keeping a list of passwords: Now make a list of your web locations that you need a password for. For your Gmail account, your password may be “3sandboX#2sandbox@”. Your entry in your password manager or a password list would show it as “32X”. The ‘X’ indicates your capitalized letter. Your list will look something like this:

• Gmail: 32X = 32X means 3sandboX#2sandboX@
• Yahoo Mail: 23X=23X means 2sandboX@3sandboX#
• Retail Coupons Site: 18X=18X means 1sandboX!8sandboX*
• My Bank: 73X=73X means 7sandboX&3sandboX#

Another person reading this list will have no idea how to sign-in to your accounts.

This is one of many ways to make passwords easier to remember, but not the only way. These are convenient and if implemented, a great way to protect your online accounts from getting hacked. In the long run this saves time and hassle. It can also protect you from potential losses, the possibility of identity theft, and impacts on your online reputation.

Two final cautions: Never reveal your root word, or your password list is compromised. If you implement this system, based on the number combinations you may have 100 different passwords. If you vary the capitalized letter, you may have up to 700 different passwords. Use a different password for every site you access. Even if you use a password manager (which I recommend), you can still use this method. Using a password manager with ‘autofill’, the need to type 18 characters for each login will be reduced or eliminated. Here’s to safe computing!

Michael McKee is a long-time member of the Omaha business community. If you have something to share with Michael McKee, you can write to michael@omahadailyrecord.com, or you can attend at the Omaha Empowerment Breakfast (OmahaEmpowermentBreakfast.org). This column is no substitute for legal, tax or financial advice, which can be furnished only by a licensed professional.