NPR

Forget Tough Passwords: New Guidelines Make It Simple

We've been told to create passwords that are complicated, to change them regularly and to use different ones for each app or site. But the latest advice is to keep them simple, long and memorable.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology recently revised its guidelines on creating passwords.

Here's what we've been told about passwords:

  • Make them complicated.
  • Use numbers, question marks and hash marks.
  • Change them regularly.
  • Use different passwords for each app and website.

Of course, these guidelines often leave users frustrated and struggling

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