The use of an SSL Certificate is an excellent online security. However, a secure and proper password is at least as important. If you use an insecure and easy to trace password, a secure connection is not even helping. The person who has your password can then just use the front door. On this page we give a bit of advice and some common mistakes.

If your password is in the hands of third parties that may have major consequences for you. For example in the case of your email account. When a person has access to that, he can also use your other accounts. For example, a new password will be requested. The applicant does as if you forgot your password. So, this is sent to your email address and a password for another account is obtained.

Brute force and phishing
It is therefore essential that you use (multiple) passwords which are almost impossible to guess. Because passwords, how unbelievable it may sound, are relatively easy to trace. For example, by applying brute force. That is trying as much as possible options, until the correct password is obsolete. This is a method that can last quite long, but eventually result indeed. Ascertaining a password is also possible by means of phishing. So watch at any time if you're on the right site. For example, look for the green address bar when the original site has an EV SSL Certificate.

Use different passwords
If you use one password and it will be identified, then can be logged in anywhere. Even Networking4all can secure itself so well, taking over your account is than a piece of cake for these people. The corresponding data can be modified and the control over the domain name and/or SSL Certificate be obtained. Because of this, your domain name can be removed or an authorization code for a move be requested. The loss of your password can have disastrous consequences. Therefore, use a different password for each account.

Mix letters, numbers and symbols
Are you using a password that consists only of numbers, then this is the easiest to identify. A password that contains only six numbers has one million possible combinations. That seems a lot, but is traced in half a minute by means of brute force. Do you use a password with six characters containing both uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols, then it takes 2.5 years to trace.

Thus as a user can indeed ensure that brute force does not work, or at least that it takes so long that it is not worth it. As described above, it is important that your password have several different characters. Therefore, use both uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols (eg aGt&7rkH).

Don't use a predictable password
The most common mistake in choosing a new password is to use the most predictable password. For example the names, date or initials of the user or his or her partners or children. These passwords are obviously easy to remember and therefore easy to use, but these combinations are however easy to guess and therefore very dangerous. To avoid a weak password, you should at least not use one of these passwords. Other dangerous combinations are simply 123456, abc123, qwerty and password.

Use a long password
The more characters your password contains, the more secure it is. A password with eight characters is many times safer than a combination of six characters. If brute force is applied, a short password obsolete much faster. Use a long password, then the action is soon to be discontinued because it takes too long. In some cases decades. So, longer is better.

Don't write the password down
While many people or companies recommend to write down passwords, we don't. In many cases, the notes with the password is kept near the computer. An obvious place and therefore for burglars or others 'interested people' an easy place to find it. If you can't remember your password, keep the note with your password not near the computer. In addition, never save the password on your laptop/computer, so thieves do not get both your computer and your passwords.

Take a sentence as password
One way to choose a password is by using a phrase. For example, by using the first or last letter of each word you get a combination which is difficult to guess. Because you use a complete sentence, you can remember the password a lot easier, instead of some random numbers and letters. For example: John was born in 1973 in London, will be &Jwbi73iL. Like this, you use uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers. Finally, add a symbol and you have a good password.

Change the password often
Change your password once in a while. For example, after every three to six months. This can be an entirely new combination, but changing one letter or number can occur a lot of damage. The password is changed completely and is therefore not working any more. A person who may try to crack your password will have to start all over again.