The Top 5 Worst Passwords — and How to Pick the Strongest Ones

Don't use easy-to-identify words. "The name of your dog or your boyfriend," as the IT guy tells Veronica, "actually makes it easier to crack." And don't use birthdays, anniversaries, or other trackable data, either.

Bonus tip? Don't leave your codes out for others to see. Veronica's take: "You wouldn't believe the number of people who keep the combination written down on a Post-it. Or tacked to a bulletin board. Or scribbled on a birthday page of their page-a-day calendar." Well, sadly enough, people still do it.