How To Remember Your Passwords: From Mnemonics to Secure Password Managers

Struggling to remember every password? You’re not alone. Most of us have more passwords than we can manage.

Many of us are unable to recall multiple passwords and fall back on risky habits — like reusing old passwords. With cyber threats rising, creating unique passwords for each of your accounts is critical to protecting against hacking and identity theft. A secure password vault can save you time and stress.

This guide covers practical techniques for remembering passwords and introduces the benefits of using a dedicated password manager to securely store and manage your credentials.

How to remember your passwords

While a password manager is the most secure choice for storing and accessing passwords, these tips can also help if you prefer alternative methods.

• Use a secure password manager: Think of it as a vault that remembers everything for you. One strong master password unlocks the manager, which then generates and stores unique passwords for each account. Let your password manager remember — so you don’t have to.
• Use a mnemonic password: For example, consider the song lyric, “I'm Never Gonna Give You Up, Never Gonna Let You Down.” You can use each word's first letter to create the password: INggYU,NgLYD. We’ve used capital and lowercase letters to meet most basic password requirements.
• Use a passphrase: Passphrases are longer and easier to remember than cryptic and mixed-character passwords. A good passphrase should be at least four words and 15 characters long. Try creating one by describing items around you — something like “PenCupEmptyMug.”
• Build muscle memory with repetition: Type new passwords daily for the first week or so. Muscle memory can work wonders over time.
• Use visualization: Visualize the pattern of your password on a keyboard or link it to something familiar. Visualization can make complex passwords easier to recall.
• Tell a story: Connect parts of your password to a memorable story. Stories help cement passwords in your mind.
• Add multi-factor authentication (MFA) or two-factor authentication (2FA): MFA and 2FA provide an additional security layer. You are required to provide a code in addition to your password. Many password managers include MFA, simplifying protection for your accounts.
• Browser’s built-in manager: Less secure than dedicated managers, browser-based managers (such as Google or Firefox’s built-in password managers) are free and offer convenience by storing and auto-filling passwords. However, be mindful of potential security risks, as browser managers may be more vulnerable to attacks.

Best practices for creating a strong password

A strong password is your first line of defense for protecting your information against hackers. A weak password is an invitation to a compromised account.

Here’s a quick rundown of the do’s and don’ts to help you create secure, hard-to-guess passwords:

Do this when creating a password

1. Use a random password generator. Generators create strong, randomized passwords that are tough to guess. It’s a simple solution to protect your accounts.
2. Try a passphrase generator. Passphrases are easy to remember and much harder for others to hack. Think of it as security you can actually remember. Passphrases combine simple words into longer and unique phrases and can be customized without being overly complicated.
3. Incorporate numbers and special characters. Unique passwords are secure passwords. A mix of numbers, symbols, and upper- and lowercase letters will create a stronger password.
4. Make it long. Most websites require at least 8 varied characters in a password. However, a password with at least 12 characters is more secure. To be safe, aim for 16 characters.
5. Change your password regularly. Updating passwords periodically helps prevent them from becoming compromised.

Don’t do this when creating a password

1. Avoid reusing passwords across accounts. Hackers love reused passwords. When you use the same password across accounts, one compromised account can quickly put them all at risk.
2. Skip personal information. Don’t use personally identifiable information like names, birthdays, or addresses. Although it may feel like information only you know, this information can be very easy to guess — especially if you’ve answered one of those social media phishing name games.
3. Stay away from common passwords. Passwords like “123456” and “password123” are among the first ones hackers try.
4. Forget simple patterns. Patterns like “qwerty” or straightforward phrases make your passwords vulnerable.
5. Don’t store passwords in plain text. Your passwords deserve a vault, not a sticky note. Avoid writing passwords in notebooks or an unsecured document on your computer or phone.

The best password managers for improved security

Password managers simplify creating, storing, and accessing passwords across your accounts. Services like NordPass, RoboForm, and Keeper securely store your information. They also auto-fill passwords across devices and can generate unique passwords. A password manager takes away the worry of reusing passwords. It’s an easy way to keep your online identity safe.

FAQs

Bottom line

Managing your passwords doesn’t have to be frustrating. There are various methods to help remember complex ones. You can memorize, make up stories, and so on. However, the safest and most effective approach is to use a dedicated password manager. It’s like a personal vault.

Password managers do it all: autofill, securely store, and generate complex passwords. Ready to take control? Embrace the peace of mind that comes with total digital security.