What Makes a Password Truly Secure?
A strong password helps keep your accounts secure by making it much harder for hackers to break in. It protects your personal information, reduces the risk of identity theft, and keeps your private data safe. Overall, it gives you peace of mind knowing your online accounts are better protected.
What Makes a Good Password?
A good password is long, uses a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoids any personal details or common words. It should also be unique for every account, making it much harder for attackers to guess or crack.
| Characteristics of a Good Password | |
|---|---|
|
Length |
A longer password is harder to guess - make your password as long as possible to help keep your information safe. |
|
Complexity |
Adding numbers, symbols, and mixed-case letters makes it harder for would-be snoops or others to guess or crack your password. The best password will contain the following:
Writing down your password is a common security risk, but might be necessary (especially for infrequently-visited sites) - if you do write down passwords, do not leave them in plain sight! (A notebook in a locked drawer might be a good place for these. |
|
Memorability |
Coming up with and then remembering such a password can be difficult - one good method is to start from a phrase you will remember (preferably one unique to you) and modify it to make it as secure as possible:
You thus already have numerals, special characters and upper and lower case letters - you can add padding (say an exclamation mark at each end) and arrive at an even tougher password to crack. |
What Makes a Weak Password?
A weak password is one that’s easy for someone else—or a computer—to guess. Here are the most common things that make a password weak:
| Characteristics of a Bad Password | |
|---|---|
|
Too Simple or Short |
Passwords like “123456,” “password,” or “qwerty.” |
|
It Uses Personal Details |
Details that others can easily find, such as your name, birthday, pet’s name, or phone number. |
|
It’s Reused Across Multiple Accounts |
If one account is hacked, all your other accounts become vulnerable. |
|
It Lacks Variety |
Your password uses only letters or only numbers instead of a mix of characters. |
In short, a bad password is predictable, easy to guess, or reused—making your accounts far easier to hack.
Summary
Strong passwords are essential for protecting your accounts and personal information. A good password is long, unique, and includes a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols while avoiding personal details or common words. Using memorable phrases and adding creative substitutions can help you build secure passwords that are easier to remember. In contrast, bad passwords are short, simple, predictable, or reused across accounts—making them easy for hackers to guess. Choosing strong passwords and avoiding weak ones is one of the best ways to keep your online accounts safe.
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You may also refer to our Knowledge Base articles to help answer common questions and guide you through various setup, configuration, and troubleshooting steps.