Just got done investigating a spambot we had earlier, and it looks like they used a lot of compromised accounts on other instances to give their post an initial upvote boost. If you don't already, please remember to use a good strong password. Keeping your account secure helps reduce spam across the whole of lemmy, and keeps your account from getting banned for things you didn't actually do.
I recommend Diceware! I use it in my professional capacity as an IT/Security person, and also you get to use your mathrocks!
EDIT: Oh, also, all that numbers and symbols shit is no longer considered good practice. Just make it a really long collection of random words, at least 12, ideally 16+ characters. And make sure the words are actually random; your 3 favorite sports teams isn't good enough, which is why I recommend diceware.
I like the CorrectHorseBatteryStaple methodology.
https://xkcd.com/936
these are called pass phrases and yes, they tend to be way more secure at least until quantum computers render all traditional cryptography meaningless.
I'll cross that bridge when it actually happens.
You’ve got an estimated 10 years or so before quantum computers can crack all current encryption by using Shor’s algorithm.
Well good news then, because even throwing every quantum computer currently on the planet is not enough to factor 2048-bit RSA, and likely won't be in any currently alive human's lifetime.
Maybe with current quantum computers, but human technology tends to increase at an exponential rate so I doubt it will be long. Scientists are already trying to design post-quantum encryption for this very reason.
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2024/08/nist-releases-first-3-finalized-post-quantum-encryption-standards
Basically what diceware does. It's just that humans are really bad at picking random words ("banana" is over represented, for instance) that's what diceware helps with.
I look around the room or think about what I'm doing. My username was made that way.
Not recommended. People can and do crib the kinds of things you're likely to have around you. It can narrow the field of guesses more than you'd think.
I used to use words from different vernaculars or languages. Sometimes i double check they are too abstract and weird to correct horse battery staple easily just because I'm a contrarian asshole snd thst helps me remember. exquisitevibrattoacquittalbevelschaudenfreude