Creating Strong Passwords

Key Concepts

• Password Complexity
• Length Matters
• Avoid Common Patterns
• Use a Password Manager

Password Complexity

Password complexity refers to the mix of different types of characters in a password. A strong password should include a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. This diversity makes it harder for attackers to guess or crack your password.

Example: "P@ssw0rd!" includes an uppercase letter (P), a lowercase letter (a), a number (0), and a special character (@).

Think of password complexity as a puzzle with many pieces. The more varied the pieces, the harder it is to solve the puzzle.

Length Matters

The length of a password is crucial for its strength. Longer passwords are exponentially harder to crack than shorter ones. A good rule of thumb is to use passwords that are at least 12 characters long. The longer the password, the better.

Example: "Str0ngP@ssw0rd!" is 15 characters long and includes a mix of characters.

Think of password length as a chain. The longer the chain, the harder it is to break.

Avoid Common Patterns

Common patterns in passwords make them easier to guess. Avoid using easily guessable information such as your name, birthdate, or common words. Also, avoid sequential patterns like "123456" or "qwerty".

Example: Instead of "Password123", use "P@ssw0rd!2023".

Think of common patterns as shortcuts. If everyone knows the shortcut, it's not secure.

Use a Password Manager

A password manager is a tool that helps you create, store, and manage strong passwords. It generates complex passwords for you and securely stores them, so you don't have to remember each one. This ensures that all your accounts have strong, unique passwords.

Example: Tools like LastPass, 1Password, and Dashlane can generate and store passwords for you.

Think of a password manager as a safe. It keeps all your valuable passwords secure in one place.