
This will create passwords that only include alphanumeric characters. This is perhaps the best option to use, since it uses wordlike phrases intermixed with punctuation and symbols, such as "oaf7)songsmith." These options are far easier to commit to memory than others.
Apple strong password generator password#
To generate a password, first select a password scheme from the Type menu, which includes the following options: In addition to checking your existing passwords you can have the Password Assistant generate new ones for you based on a number of different criteria. However, if you add a single number or punctuation mark between the two words, such as "my>password," then despite the words being in the dictionary, the checker tells you this is a far more desirable password to use. For instance, the password "mypassword" is horrible and is indicated as being so by a short red bar in the password checker. Sometimes simple alterations to a password are enough to change it from an insecure one to a secure one. In addition to the tips, the tool will display the password strength with the Quality indicator, which will show a progressively green bar as the password gets more secure. As you type, the tool will display a few suggestions in the tips field about your password, such as whether it includes dictionary words, or whether it is too short or needs alternative characters like numbers or punctuation. If you plan on checking your password, click the Suggestion field and then type your password. In both cases the password assistant window will appear, with a number of options for checking or generating passwords. In the Users & Groups system preferences, click the Change Password button for your account and then likewise click the key button to the right of the password field. In Keychain Access, just select New Password Item from the File menu and then click the little key button to the right of the password field. In this case simply adding a punctuation character results in an acceptably secure password. Sometimes simply adding a single character is enough to greatly enhance the security of a password. Many programs include this framework, but a couple of easy and readily available options are Apple's Keychain Access utility and the Users & Groups (or Accounts) system preferences. If you find yourself constantly coming up with new passwords for your services and have ever wondered about how secure they actually are, Apple has a tool built into OS X that might help in this process, as it not only will check your passwords for security but will also help you generate one if needed.Īpple's Password Assistant is not a standalone application that you can open however, as part of its Security framework (a centralized application programming library) it can be accessed from any program that was built with this framework and includes a button that allows you to invoke it. In these instances you now have to either change your password scheme to accommodate the service, or create a new scheme altogether.

Unfortunately, once you have created a password or password scheme that seems secure and perfect for your uses, many times it will not work for specific services that have restrictions such as using only letters and numbers with no punctuation or special symbols, or have a specific length range for the password. If an application or system service is built with the Security framework, then it may allow you access to the password assistant by clicking this button (you do not need to change your password to use this tool). In general, the more complex and long a password is, the better however, many times people resort to using patterns that are easy to remember, such as combinations of names or words, many of which are dictionary terms that make them much easier to figure out than a random password. While being able to remember a password is hard enough, warranting tools like 1Password and Apple's Keychain to help store them, another area of frustration is attempting to come up with a good and secure password, or at least being able to check those you already have. At the root of the security is, of course, your password to access these services.

Security is required everywhere, be it for logging in to your computer, accessing e-mail, or accessing Web services such as banking or social media.
