Characteristics of a Strong Password

A strong password is designed to resist common attacks, such as brute force and dictionary attacks. Here are the key characteristics that make a password strong:

• Length: The longer the password, the more secure it is. Aim for at least 12 to 16 characters. The increased length makes it exponentially harder for attackers to crack.
• Complexity: A good password should include a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (e.g., @, #, $, %). This variety reduces the chances of successful guesswork by attackers.
• Unpredictability: Avoid common phrases, dictionary words, and easily guessable information such as names, birthdates, or sequential numbers (e.g., "12345" or "password"). Unpredictable combinations significantly boost your password's security.

How to Create a Strong Password

Creating a strong password can be easy if you follow these simple steps:

• Use a Passphrase: Create a password from a memorable phrase, but replace certain letters with symbols, numbers, or uppercase letters. For example, "I love coffee every morning" could become "1L0v3C0ff33@M0rn1ng!"
• Avoid Reusing Passwords: Each of your online accounts should have a unique password. Reusing passwords across multiple sites increases the risk of a single breach compromising multiple accounts.
• Consider a Password Manager: If remembering multiple complex passwords is challenging, consider using a password manager. These tools can generate and store strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts.

Examples of Strong Passwords

To better understand what strong passwords look like, consider the following examples:

• Weak: "JohnDoe123" - This password uses a common name and a simple number sequence, making it easy to guess or crack.
• Strong: "J0hn!D03$21*ab#" - This password incorporates a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, making it much harder to break.
• Weak: "iloveyou" - A commonly used phrase that can be quickly guessed or found in password dictionaries.
• Strong: "1L0v3!Y0u$%7*12" - A variation of the phrase with added complexity and numbers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even when trying to create strong passwords, some common mistakes can undermine your efforts:

• Using Personal Information: Avoid using easily accessible personal information, such as your name, birthday, or address. Cybercriminals often exploit this data in their attacks.
• Simple Keyboard Patterns: Passwords like "qwerty" or "123456" are among the most common and easiest to hack. These should be avoided at all costs.
• Incremental Changes: Simply adding a number or symbol to a previously used password (e.g., changing "Password1" to "Password2") does not create a secure password. Instead, start from scratch and create something entirely new.

Real-World Example

In 2012, LinkedIn suffered a major data breach that exposed 6.5 million passwords. Many of the exposed passwords were incredibly weak, with "123456" and "linkedin" among the most common. The breach highlighted the importance of using strong, unique passwords for each account.

Further Reading and Tools

For more information on creating strong passwords and protecting your accounts, check out these resources:

• UK Cyber Aware: Passwords
• National Cyber Security Alliance: Passwords
• Have I Been Pwned? - Check if your passwords have been compromised