Don’t use passwords or user IDs that include personal
information like your birth date or Social Security number.
Don’t use your mother’s maiden name as a security question. Pick
something more obscure, like your childhood pet’s name. Don’t
leave passwords in plain view—on your monitor, for example.
Don’t use the same password for multiple sites. If crooks crack
your Twitter account, they can access your bank account too. Do
create passwords that are at least 8 to 16 characters long, with
a mix of capital letters, numbers, and symbols. They’re harder
to crack. Do use random pattern codes to create passwords. For
example, pick two computer keys—say, 4 and 7. Type straight down
the keyboard from 4 until you reach the bottom (the letter V),
then type one character to the left. Then do the same for 7,
this time using all caps. You now have a meaningless password
that reads 4rfvc7UJMN, but all you have to remember is 47. Or
use the first letter of each word in a line from a favorite song
or poem. Do change passwor