WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Setting up a new password with your favorite line in a movie or the name of an item in your living room seems unusual. However, the federal tax agency of the United States believed it is a new way to generate secure and strong passwords.
U.S. Internal Revenue Service said on Tuesday that words which were originated from associated personal items could help the public to create a "passphrase" that can be easily remembered while protecting the account.
"The latest guidance suggests using a passphrase such as a favorite line from a movie or a series of associated words rather than using a password," said IRS.
Older style passwords usually contained a complex combination of lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, symbols and special characters. However, IRS said they were "out."
"Longer, personal phrases people can remember -- for example, SunWalkRainDrive -- are now preferred," said IRS.
Meanwhile, IRS said that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which is a branch of the Department of Commerce of the United States, also recommended a similar approach last year.
The IRS said that NIST had recommended public to identify associated items that have meaning to them. Then, the person should choose words that can go together in his or her mind but no one else would suspect as the new passphrases.
"We need taxpayers and tax professionals to take common-sense steps to protect their data and make it harder for identity thieves," said Chuck Rettig, commissioner of IRS.
"By using better passwords, people can help themselves and the tax community against identity theft," Rettig added.
