What makes a password strong?

Strong passwords are at least 8 characters long; use a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters; and do not include "real words" that can be found in the dictionary.

If I use a password, are all my transactions secure?

When using your laptop in a Wi-Fi Hot Spot, or when using a computer in an Internet Café, you want to avoid any actions that require a user name and password (like checking your bank account or doing any online shopping) because your user names, passwords, and/or account and credit card numbers could be intercepted over the wireless network or via keystroke logging devices.

If I shouldn't write down my passwords, how can I keep them straight?

It is recommended that you create passwords that are easy to remember. But given the fact that you need a different password for every online account, it can quickly get confusing. There are password manager software tools and Web sites that help you save and encrypt your user names and passwords.