The recent launch of two-factor authentication for Google accounts inspired me to re-evaluate and improve the security of the numerous accounts I’ve accumulated in my time on the Internet.
I’ve always been cognizant of good password practices. Even my very first password on AOL in 1994, while it was rooted in a dictionary word, at least had numbers at the end of it. I’ve never been so blithe as to use “password” as a password, or use things like names and dates. All of my passwords today are what most would consider “strong” passwords — composed of letters of varying case, along with numbers, and not incorporating any dictionary words. However, my password practices could still stand to use some improvement.