A safe is only as secure if the combination to access it is not guessable. That can be an issue as you probably won't often access your safe and will tend to aim for easy to remember numbers such as birthdates and anniversaries, which can be easy to guess.
Here are some safer options for choosing your combination.
Use an alphanumeric code
If you need to choose numbers, but like most people find words easier to remember, you can choose a word to stand in for the numbers you need. The simplest code gives each number in the alphabet its order number (A=1, B=2, C=3 and so on). This means you can choose a word, such as 'FACE' that leads to a code of 7135 but is much easier to remember.
Choose a date that is harder to guess
If you have another significant date in your life that isn't a family member's birthday, that can also be good option for a combination code. You could try another date you always remember, such as Bastille Day for a Francophile (July 14 or 1407) or Christmas Day for fans of Santa (December 25 or 2512). You can also take a commonly remembered date in your mind, such as your mother's birthday, and add 1 to each number (so that 210261 becomes 321372).
Choose a pattern
If you have a key pad, rather than focusing on the actual number you can remember a pattern such as a diamond or hitting all of the corners. Some people find this muscle memory easier to recall than a code.
Choose a larger number
Analysis of common passwords released from hacking scandals shows a surprisingly high number of passwords are the same - with 11% of people selecting 1234 as a code! Try to choose one of the least popular codes and you'll find that it's substantially harder for untoward types to guess your password. Many of these passwords are at the higher end of the number spectrum and have numbers that do not appear closely together in the number series. Avoiding consecutive numbers and ordered number passwords already places your password at the harder to guess end of the spectrum.
In addition to the tips above, make not to store any tips around the safe itself to prompt you in remembering your password. Your safe will only be as secure as the combination you have chosen to lock it.
Share18 November 2015
As the manager of a five-star hotel, I face many interesting challenges. There's never a dull moment! One of my biggest problems is security. I spend a lot of time obtaining quality keys, locks and safes and ensuring they are well-maintained. There's nothing worse than a tired guest and a broken lock at 3 am! Over the years, I have trialled many different types of locks and safes. I also keep up with the latest technology in this area. I am therefore quite the expert when it comes to advising family and friends about the best systems for their homes and businesses. Given that so many people ask me for advice, I figured that there may be others who are overwhelmed by the plethora of options out there. This blog may give you some ideas and help you make good decisions in your search for superior locks and safes.