Make a Mental Memory Vault for Passwords

Here’s how to do it in the most secure way; use this technique and within thirty minutes you’ll have memorised all your computer passwords.

You’ll also have tightened up their security, making it less likely that a hacker or identity fraudster could gain access to your accounts.

In order to memorise your passwords we’re going to use the technique of remembering a list of eleven items. There are two version of this

•     The sound systems (which uses images of things which sound like each number)
•     The appearance system (which uses images of things look like each number)

Here’s an idea for you…

There are two golden rules when choosing passwords:-

1. Make them unconnected to you (don’t use your pet’s name or mother’s maiden name). Most hackers are successful simply through assuming your password is something personally related to you. Most people only use something personal to them in order to make it easier to remember, but by using the techniques here that won’t apply to you.
2. Don’t make them just letters, add in at least one number. This adds complexity, making your password harder to hack. To make this memorable, use the same number as its position in your list of eleven. For example, if your password was ‘randomword’, and  it was the third in your list, you would make the third in your list, you would make it ‘randoworld03’

“The big lie of computer security is that security is that security improves by imposing complex passwords on users. In real life, people write down anything they can’t remember”

Jakob Nielsen, computer security expert

Once you’ve worked out your list, take a break for ten minutes and then test yourself. Then take another break for an hour and test yourself again. This will give you an excellent shot at getting those passwords into your long-term memory.