The first step in protecting your online privacy is creating a safe password - i.e. one that a computer program or persistent individual won't easily be able to guess in a short period of time. To help you choose a secure password, Google has created a feature that lets you know visually how safe your password is as soon as you create it.


Tips for creating a secure password:


  • Include punctuation marks and/or numbers.
  • Mix capital and lowercase letters.
  • Include similar looking substitutions, such as the number zero for the letter 'O' or '$' for the letter 'S'.
  • Create a unique acronym.
  • Include phonetic replacements, such as 'Luv 2 Laf' for 'Love to Laugh'.


Things to avoid:


  • Don't reuse passwords for multiple important accounts, such as Gmail and online banking.
  • Don't use a password that is listed as an example of how to pick a good password.
  • Don't use a password that contains personal information (name, birth date, etc.)
  • Don't use words or acronyms that can be found in a dictionary.
  • Don't use keyboard patterns (asdf) or sequential numbers (1234).
  • Don't make your password all numbers, uppercase letters or lowercase letters.
  • Don't use repeating characters (aa11).


Tips for keeping your password secure:


  • Never tell your password to anyone (this includes significant others, roommates, parrots, etc.).
  • Never write your password down.
  • Never send your password by email.
  • Periodically test your current password and change it to a new one.