This past week I got two more notices informing me that I need to change passwords. It's become a part of our every day lives, especially in a world filled with hackers who are trying to access our credit cards or bank accounts.

So what makes for a good password?  Let's start by identifying bad passwords. In the video below are the Top 10 most used passwords of all time (and they are all really dangerous to use). If you're using any of these, you should change them immediately.

Microsoft Windows has offered up some tips for creating a strong password. The stronger your password, the more protected your computer is from hackers and malicious viruses.

A strong password:

*is at least eight characters long

*does not contain your user name, real name or company name

*does not contain a complete word

*is significantly different from previous passwords

*contains characters from each of the following...uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, symbols.

It's also suggested that you substitute numbers, symbols and misspellings for letters or words in an easy-to-remember phrase.

While there are password keepers and apps to help you remember, I've also found it helpful to jot my passwords down on a piece of paper and keep it in a safe place.

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