Better safe than sorry: a basic password primer

You're your own person and you don't want to share your basic information with strangers. Password protection is the first step to computer safety and security.

An often overlooked but vital part of any computer user’s day-to-day life is the humble password. From debit card PINs to logging into your favourite gaming site, passwords keep your personal information safe from people who are merely curious to the purely criminal at heart.

Yet the vast majority of people who use passwords have laughably easy ones in place, or use the same password for many different things.

The suggestions that follow concentrate on use on computer systems, but users can apply these tips to any kind of secure password or PIN use.

It is dangerous to skimp when creating a password, whether it is for an online site that dispenses jokes-of-the-day or your personal bank account. Passwords help keep your data private, so you should give careful thought to every one you create and use, no matter the purpose.

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