How to ensure you have a "secure" password

Statistics show that most data theft and computer break-ins occur through   accounts with passwords that allow a perpetrator to guess or 'crack' the  password. That is why Technology Services has promoted a policy of creating passwords complex enough as to not be guessed or easily cracked with the help of a software program. A password must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Cannot contain all or part of the user's account name
• Cannot be a common word found in a dictionary
• Be at least eight characters in length including any spaces
• Cannot be any of the previous five password choices
• Contain characters from three of the following four categories:

1. English uppercase characters (A through Z)
2. English lowercase characters (a through z)
3. Base 10 digits (0 through 9)
4. Non-alphabetic characters (for example, !, $, #, %)

Some examples (DO NOT USE THESE EXAMPLES) of passwords that meet the above minimum requirements are:

1. I need to pick up some milk @ 7-11 tonight! 
2. ec$T12Ob
3. John 3:16

For your convenience, Information Technology also has a password generator which can give you a password that meets these requirements.