- choose a word from a dictionary
- use personal information such as your name, make of car etc.
- tell anyone your passwd
- write your password down anywhere
- use the password you were given when you first got your account on the system.
- choose an obscure password preferably between 6 and 8 characters in length, of mixed case and containing at least one non-alphanumeric character such as ! or @
- change your password at regular intervals