Noori network and the password !!

This post is intended to be about "Password", whether it is a PIN code or a PC login password, all are categorized under security.
In this post I will spot the light on password's strength and how important it is for us. We all know that passwords are used everywhere (PC, PDA, Mobiles, ATM, ...), so I can conclude without doubt that it is so important and essential.

For a moment, take a deep breath and think about these questions:

Do you think that loosing a password is catastrophic !?
Do you keep your passwords in a safe place !?
Do you know that sharing your passwords with your colleagues is a bad and dangerous habit !?
Do you care about the strength of your password !?

If

All your answers were "Yes", Then I think there is no need to proceed and read the rest of the post.

else

You should seriously consider this article as a first step in safe computing.

Strong Passwords:

Lets begin and define the "strong password", it is a mixture of upper case & lower case letters + special characters (@#$%^&*) + numbers (0 to 9). It could be lengthy, and the recommended one must consists of at least 8 characters.

You can make it complex and lengthy, but make sure you remember it (Don't write it on a post it notes). some applications have password generation advantage, use it if you can't generate a complex one.

guys, I'll give you a hint .. I'm using Roboform .. a password manager and password generator .. it is capable of saving 9 different passwords (the free version) with their appropriate websites. let me explain it for you .. If I type www.hotmail.com the application will recognize the website and shows you a BOLD button has the name of the password saved from the previous login to the same website.

Look .. it can saves up to 9 different passwords with its login name also (free version only).

Just try it and you will understand what I meant. Believe me it will save your time and effort. remembering all you passwords whether an email1, email2, ... , email n ... or your blog, messenger, etc... is a big headache !!!

Let us return back to the story behind our title "Noori network and the password !!" ..

I remember one day when I was in my grandfather's house, searching for a WIFI network .. just playing around ( I was sure that there is no available wireless networks in this area ) .. after searching I got this "Noori" !! you know this kind of evil smile drawn on the face when a bad ideas comes to the mind ? that is what I felt at that moment .. So I asked my cousin ..

me: Abdulla ? I think you know Noori .. The guy who lives in the next house to my granfather's house !?
Abdulla: Yes I know him, He is my cousin's husband living in an apartment in the next house ..
me: mmm .. I'm trying to connect to his network .. but it seems that it is locked with a password .. mmm .. "Thinking"!!

I was guessing different several passwords .. but didn't access his network .. I'm not that bad guy who used to do maniac hacking stuff .. but at that moment I was so curious to hack it !!

me: Abdulla ? Do you know his wife's name ?
Abdulla: Yes ,, she is my cousin .. she is "flana" ..

Trying 2 - 3 spellings .. gotta you huh !! it was a piece of cake !!

Look how stupid is that !! he put his wife's name as a password !! no special characters or mixing numbers or using letters with upper and lower case !!

this was so simple scenario .. so please I don't want anybody telling me he/she has the same scenario till this moment of reading this post .. if so .. this will be counted as the most stupid story I don't want to hear !!

Similar scenarios:

Choosing a password as your mobile number, husband name, car plate number, mother's name, your children names, or even your underwear size !! believe me .. somebody will figure it out one day !!

General Advices:

1- Check your password strength using this Password checker.
2- Don't share your password with anyone .. or it can't be a password anymore !!
3- Try changing your password every 6 months.
4- Don't write your password on a piece of paper or just attach it to the monitor !!
5- In case of a bank account PIN number, Don't write it on the cover of the credit or debit cards !! or don't even keep the password in your wallet !! this would be like keeping the key of a treasury box over it after locking it !!

I remember one day .. an old lady came to me while i was withdrawing money from an ATM, she asked me to withdraw an amount of money for her, and she gave me her PIN code .. OMG !!
ta7med rabha ene 5oosh walad :P
I was thinking how stupid was that .. I withdrawed the exact amount of money and gave back her card and money and told her not to trust anyone next time !!