Heads Up

Protecting your devices and accounts is like locking the front door. Choosing a weak password is like hiding the key under the doormat.

At a Glance

As kids begin using more technology, they’ll start creating passwords for school accounts, Chromebooks, educational websites, and eventually their first cell phone.

Learning how to create a good password early is one of the easiest ways to stay safe online. A strong password helps keep your information private and prevents other people from accessing your accounts.

The Threat

Not everyone who wants access to an account is a stranger on the internet. Sometimes it’s a classmate trying to guess a password, a bully looking to cause trouble, or someone who simply shouldn’t have access.

Many people choose passwords based on things that are easy to remember, such as:

• Their name
• A pet’s name
• Their favorite sports team
• Their school mascot
• A birthday or graduation year

The problem is that these are often the first things someone will guess.

Outsmart It

Creating a good password doesn’t have to be difficult.

When creating a password:

• Don’t use your name, birthday, or other personal information.
• Avoid common words like “password” or “123456.”
• Use uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters when possible.
• Use a different password for different accounts.
• Never share your password with friends.

As you get older and create more online accounts, you’ll want even stronger passwords. That’s why cybersecurity professionals recommend using passphrases, which are longer, easier to remember, and much harder to guess.

Want to learn how to create a strong passphrase?

Read this Blog Post: Use Passphrases, Not Passwords.

EXTRA CONTENT

How Strong Is Your Password?

Want to see how strong your password is?

Visit: Bitwarden

As you type a password, the website estimates how long it would take a computer to crack it. It’s a fun way to see how making small changes—like adding more characters or creating a longer password—can make it much stronger.

For most kids, it’s okay if your password is rated “Weak” when you’re first learning. Try improving it until you reach “Good” or better.

Your password is not sent to the website. The password strength check is performed locally in your web browser, so what you type never leaves your device.

Tip: Instead of entering a real password, create a practice password to see how different combinations affect its strength.