Password Power-Up!
How can a strong password help protect your privacy?
Winter 2022 Digital Citizenship Newsletter
Elementary Edition
What is a password?
A secret string of letters, symbols, and numbers that you can use to restrict who can access something digital
Think about it ... If/Then Scenarios -- What could happen?
Think about each of the following scenarios or turn and talk to your classmate about it.
- Ethan forgets his phone on the bus. IF someone found it and figured out his password, THEN what could happen?
- McKenzie writes her email address and password in her notebook and leaves it open while she goes to the restroom. IF someone saw McKenzie's email address and password in her notebook, THEN what could happen?
- Lyndi goes over to her friend Asia's house to play an online video game. After Lyndi leaves, her gaming profile is still saved. Asia's little brother, Ben, turns on the game and sees it. IF Ben figured out Lyndi's password, THEN what could happen?
- Tradd's cousin uses a computer at the library to go on social media. IF he forgets to log out of his account, THEN what could happen?
- Emma's sister uses an app to share pictures with their family. IF someone figured out her password to the app, THEN what could happen?
Why is it important to have a strong password?
Many people are guilty of having bad password habits. Sometimes a password might be too easy to guess, or it might be shared across multiple accounts or stored in an unsafe place. Having a strong password is a key part of keeping yourself safe online. Here are some tips to make sure you use good passwords for each of your online accounts.
One good way to create a strong password is to start with a phrase.
Step 1: Start with a phrase. Think of a quote, song lyrics, or a group of words that will be easy to remember.
- Example: There's no way I'm kissing a frog.
Step 2: Write down just the first letter of each word in the phrase.
Step 3: Capitalize some of the letters.
Step 4: Add one or two memorable numbers.
Step 5: Memorize it. Repeat your new password in your head so it sticks.
PASSWORD TIPS TO REMEMBER
- Start with a memorable phrase.
- Only your parents should know your password.
- Never use any private identity information in your password.
- Create passwords with at least eight characters.
- Use letters, numbers, and symbols in your password.
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