A data breach resulting from weak passwords occurs when an unauthorized individual gains access to an account by exploiting a password that is easy to guess, crack, or bypass. Use our online password generator below to create a strong and random password.
What are the requirements for strong passwords?
Strong passwords should meet the following criteria to be considered secure:
:- Length: Passwords should be at least 12 characters long. The longer the password, the harder it is for attackers to guess or crack through brute-force or dictionary attacks.
- Complexity: A strong password should include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (e.g., !, @, #, $, %). Mixing different character types increases the password's complexity, making it more resilient against various cracking methods.
- Avoid Predictability: Do not use easily guessable information like your name, birthdate, or commonly used words. Avoid sequential or repetitive patterns (e.g., abcdef, 123456, or qwerty) as they are easily predictable.
- Uniqueness: Each online account should have a unique password. Reusing passwords across multiple accounts increases the risk of a single compromised account leading to unauthorized access to other accounts.
- Avoid Personal Information: Refrain from including personal information, such as your name, username, or any easily discoverable information about you, in your password. Personal details can be targeted by attackers who may possess basic information about you.
- Regular Updates: Change your passwords periodically, preferably every few months. Regularly updating passwords reduces the chances of unauthorized access, especially if a data breach occurs in a service you use.
- Password Manager: Consider using a reputable password manager to generate, store, and manage your passwords securely. Password managers can help you create complex passwords and remember them without the need to memorize each one.
While following these requirements can significantly improve password strength, it's important to balance security with convenience. Using long and complex passwords might be challenging to remember, but the use of password managers can help mitigate this challenge by securely storing passwords for you.
Additionally, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever available adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a secondary verification step, such as a temporary code or biometric authentication, in addition to your password.
