Security Tip - Good Passwords (08-24-07)
A good password should contain a mix of all the four types of characters: uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Any character on your Windows or Mac keyboard is legal in a password you make for your own computer. Remember to include at least 8 characters and avoid common words and proper names. Some characters may be illegal for certain networked systems; when in doubt, try it out. Another way to make your password complex is to base it on a word in a foreign language with a least 8 letters, avoiding common words and proper names. Just add a number, a symbol, and a capital letter or two as you go.