A password is the key to accessing your online accounts, be it email, social media, banking, or anything else. A strong and secure password will protect your account from hacker attacks, identity theft, or data misuse.
However, strong passwords should also be easy to remember, so you don’t have to rely on notes or apps to store them. Then, how to create a strong and memorable password?
Here are some tips you can apply.
1. Use Memorable Phrases or Sentences
One way to create a strong and memorable password is to use phrases or sentences that are memorable to you. For example, you can use your favorite quote, the lyrics of a song you like, or an unforgettable experience. This phrase or sentence must have a minimum of eight characters and contain uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Examples:
- “Hidup adalah pilihan, bukan kebetulan”-> H1dup4d4lahp!l!h4n,buk4nkeb3tul4n
- “I’m a survivor, I’m not gon’ give up” -> I’m4surv!v0r,Imn0tgon’g!v3up
- “Lulus kuliah tahun 2023 dengan IPK 3,5” -> Luluzkul!4h2023d3ng4n!PK3,5
This phrase or sentence will be easy for you to remember because it has meaning or value to you. However, it will be difficult for other people or machines to guess, because you have converted some letters into numbers or symbols, and used punctuation.
2. Use Acronyms or Abbreviations
Another way to create strong and memorable passwords is to use acronyms or abbreviations. You can create acronyms or abbreviations from phrases or sentences of your choosing, or from names that are important to you. For example, you can use the initials of your name, surname, or the name of your pet. Examples:
- “Saya suka makan nasi goreng” -> SSMNG
- “Rina, Rudi, Rara, dan Roro” -> R4
- “Kucing, anjing, burung, dan ikan” -> KABI
Once you’ve created an acronym or abbreviation, you can add numbers or symbols to make it stronger. For example, you can add your date of birth, your phone number, or a symbol you like. Examples:
- SSMNG_12/08/1999
- R4*08123456789
- KABI love
This acronym or abbreviation will be easy for you to remember because it comes from words that are familiar to you. However, it will be difficult for other people or machines to guess, because you have added unrelated numbers or symbols.
3. Use the Technique of Replacing Letters
The technique of changing letters is one way to create a strong and easy-to-remember password. You can replace letters with numbers, symbols, or other letters that are similar in shape. For example, you can replace the letter A with 4, the letter E with 3, the letter I with 1, the letter O with 0, the letter S with 5, or the letter T with 7. Examples:
- “password” -> p455w0rd
- “komputer” -> k0mpu73r
- “indonesia” -> 1nd0n3514
You can also replace the letters with other letters that have different sounds or spellings. For example, you can replace the letter C with K, the letter F with PH, the letter G with J, the letter K with Q, the letter U with OO, or the letter Z with S. For example:
- “cinta” -> k1nt4
- “fisika” -> ph151k4
- “gajah” -> j4j4h
This technique of changing letters will make your password stronger because it does not match the correct spelling or pronunciation. However, you can still keep that in mind, because you know the replacement rules you use.