How To: Choose Good Passwords

As the web becomes more security conscious, and password requirements become more and more specific, and need to change more often (minimum length, required characters, etc). For example, the AMM requires passwords to be a minimum of 7 characters, with at least one letter and one number.  It has to be change every 3 months and be different then the last 4 passwords you've used.

We know it can be challenging to think of (and remember!) new passwords, so here are some handy ticks for creating memorable, long, easily typeable passwords that are more difficult to break:

Scrambling phrases:
There spoon no is.
2 be or be not!

Over punctuate:
After--->wards
green--eggs--and--ham
//steve||jobs\\

Misspell:
I like baykon.
Mawnster is gud

Another good technique is to use patterns we've already trained ourselves to remember, like email addresses.  Combine a name with a related phrase:

drseus@greeneggs.com
obama@ourpresident.gov
britney@popstar.net

Please do not use any of these examples, but the techniques are solid.  Using them you can easily create 15 - 20 character that are easy to remember and type but hard to break.