How to protect your computer accounts and passwords?

Here are some tips to protect your computer accounts and passwords from unauthorized use:

1. Use a PIN/password of 10-18 characters include combinations of letters (upper and lower case) and digits.  For example, think of a sentence which can be easily remembered. Take the first character of each word and make it a password, e.g. Happy birthday to you 2 Winnie the Pooh and Tigger becomes the password Hbty2WtPaT.
    
2. Default passwords and passwords generated by others should be changed promptly.
    
3. Change password periodically to prevent password aging (password may be spied on infected computers).
    
4. Log off system or power cycle after use in public places (e.g. office, school, or cafe).
    
5. Don’t share account with others.
    
6. Don’t disclose your user ID or password to others.
    
7. Don’t give away your user ID or password when completing an on-line form.
    
8. Don’t store your password in the browser, or leave it written around, in particular near the computer.
    
9. Don’t reuse old passwords when change of password is required.
    
10. Avoid using easily guessed passwords or PIN such as names of places, a word from a dictionary, nickname, date of birth, phone numbers, car plate numbers, any string of digits, a person’s name, drama/film character, brand of products, simple patterns of letters on keyboard e.g. ‘qwert’ or a string of all the same letter.
     
11. Change your password regularly.