5 Ways to Know If Your Password is Strong

A strong password is long, complex, and unique. You can assess your password's strength by checking these five criteria:

1. Length (The Most Important Factor)

The longer a password is, the exponentially harder it is for a hacker to crack using automated tools (like brute-force attacks).

• Weak: Passwords with 8 characters or fewer.
• Strong: Aim for a minimum of 12 characters, but 16 characters or more is excellent.

2. Complexity (Character Variety)

Complexity ensures that the password isn't just a simple word or phrase. A strong password uses a mix of different character types.

• Include at least three of the following four types:
• Uppercase letters (A, B, C...)
• Lowercase letters (a, b, c...)
• Numbers (1, 2, 3...)
• Symbols (!, @, #, $, %, ^, &)

3. Uniqueness (No Reuse)

If you use the same password for multiple accounts, and one of those accounts is compromised (e.g., through a data breach), hackers can use those credentials to take over all your other accounts. This is called a "credential stuffing" attack.

• Weak: Using the same password for your bank, email, and social media.
• Strong: Using a unique, different password for every single online service.

4. Unpredictability (No Personal Information)

Hackers often start with passwords that are easy to guess based on public information about you.

• Weak: Avoid using names, birthdays, pet names, street addresses, or common keyboard patterns (like qwerty or 123456).
• Strong: Use a completely random sequence or a memorable, complex "passphrase" (see below).

5. Exclusion from Known Breaches

The strongest password in the world is useless if it has already been publicly exposed in a massive corporate data breach.

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