Password tips and recommendations
A strong password helps you protect your account.
To create a strong password, keep in mind the following guidelines:
- Create unique, original passwords
- Use the longest practical password
- Use a mix of upper and lower case letters
- Include one or more numbers
- Do not use repeating or adjacent characters
- Use at least one of these special characters: `~!@#$%^&()_+={}|[]:”?,./\
- Avoid using software or toolbars that store your password
- Change your password regularly
Remember to avoid the following password pitfalls:
- Do not choose passwords or security codes that others can easily guess.
- Do not reuse passwords for multiple sites.
- Never use your account numbers.
- Do not use personal contact information, such as addresses or phone numbers.
- Do not use personal information, such as your name, birthday, Social Security Number, passport number, or the names or information for family members or friends.
- Do not use sequences of characters such as 1234567 or abcdefg.
- Do not rely on look-alike substitutions of numbers or symbols alone. Passwords like P@ssw0rd are easy to guess, but can be effective when you also change the case of the letters, the length of the words, and misspellings, or when you use multiple unrelated words in a phrase.
- Do not use dictionary words.
Tip: Go to http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/passwords-create.aspx for more information on creating strong passwords. We do not endorse or guarantee the site.
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