Make Your Password "Super Weird and Really Long!"
Part 1: For Middle Schoolers
What's a "Dictionary Attack"?
Imagine there are bad guys on the internet trying to break into your account. One way they try to guess your password is called a "dictionary attack."
A Thief with a Bundle of "Commonly Used Keys"
Picture this: Your house (your account) has a lock (your password). A bad thief is trying to open that lock. But this thief doesn't just randomly make keys—they've got a giant keyring full of "keys that people commonly use."
This "bundle of commonly used keys" is the "dictionary" used in the attack.
This "dictionary" is loaded with words like:
- password
- 12345678
- qwerty (just the top-left keys on a keyboard)
- iloveyou
- dragon
- Pet names or birthdays
The thief takes this keyring and tries every single key in your lock, super fast—"click, click, click!" If you're using a simple key that's probably on that keyring... your door will pop open in no time.
That's the idea behind a dictionary attack.
How's It Different from a "Brute Force Attack"?
There's a similar attack called a "brute force attack."
- Dictionary attack: The thief only tries "likely keys." (Smart, but weak against unusual keys)
- Brute force attack: The thief makes and tries "every possible key that could ever exist" in order, one by one. (Takes forever, but will eventually crack anything)
How Do You Protect Yourself?
Make your lock harder to pick by improving your key!
1. Create Your Own "Special Key"
Make a complex password that would never be on the thief's keyring.
- Bad example: baseball tokyo2025
- Good example: My#Favorite_Baseball_7!
Mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols, and make it long. This won't be on any "commonly used keys" list.
2. Use "Two Locks" (Two-Factor Authentication)
This means after entering your password, you also need to enter a "secret code" sent to your phone.
Even if the thief cracks your first lock (password), they can't get in without your phone to open the second lock. Definitely set this up!
3. Don't Reuse the Same Key
What if the key to your house, your bike, and your school locker were all the same? If one gets stolen, everything's compromised, right?
Same with online accounts—use different passwords for games, social media, email, everything.
Follow these three rules and your accounts become way more secure!
Part 2: For Kindergarteners
What's a "Dictionary Attack"?
Let's say you have your very own special treasure box. To open that treasure box, you need a secret magic word.
Along comes a mischievous Fox who wants to open your treasure box. Fox doesn't know the magic word, so he's just guessing...
But here's the thing—Fox has a notebook full of "easy magic words that lots of people use." That notebook is the "dictionary."
Fox's notebook has words like:
- inu (dog)
- neko (cat)
- banana
- 123
Fox goes through the notebook saying, "Is the magic word 'dog'?" "How about 'cat'?"—trying everything in order.
If your treasure box's magic word is "dog," what happens? That's right—Fox goes pop! and opens it!
That's what a "dictionary attack" is.
How Do You Protect Your Treasure Box?
Don't worry! You can think up a special "magic word" that Fox can't guess.
1. Make Your Own "Super Weird and Really Long Magic Word!"
Use a special magic word that's definitely not in Fox's notebook.
- Bad magic word: inu (dog)
- Really good magic word: aoi_zou_san_5_hanba-gu (blue elephant 5 hamburgers)
Put all your favorite things together! Fox will never guess that.
2. Add a "Second Lock"!
Make it so that even after saying the magic word, you also need to show a "sparkly shiny stone" that only Mommy or Daddy has.
Now even if Fox guesses your magic word, he doesn't have the sparkly stone, so the treasure box stays locked! Super safe.
3. Don't Use the Same Magic Word for Everything!
Don't use the same magic word for your toy box and your snack box. If Fox figures out one, he'll open everything!
Now your treasure box stays safe forever!