How to Create a Strong Password

What Makes a Password Strong

A strong password is long, unique, and random. These three principles matter more than any specific combination of characters.

• Length — The most important factor. Each additional character exponentially increases security. Aim for 16+ characters.
• Uniqueness — Never reuse passwords across accounts. If one service is breached, your other accounts stay safe.
• Randomness — Random passwords are impossible to guess. Avoid personal info, dictionary words, and patterns.

Best Practices

1. Use a password manager — It generates and stores unique passwords for every account, so you only need to remember one master password.
2. Go long — 16 characters is a good default. For sensitive accounts like banking or email, consider 20+ characters.
3. Mix character types — Uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols add complexity, but length matters more.
4. Enable two-factor authentication — Even strong passwords can be compromised. 2FA adds an essential second layer of protection.
5. Check for breaches — Use services like Have I Been Pwned to see if your passwords have been exposed in data breaches.

What to Avoid

• Personal information (names, birthdays, addresses)
• Dictionary words or common phrases
• Sequential patterns (123456, abcdef)
• Keyboard patterns (qwerty, asdfgh)
• Reusing passwords across multiple accounts
• Sharing passwords via email or messaging

Example: Weak vs Strong

Weak passwords:

• password123 — Too common, easily guessed
• John1990 — Contains personal information
• qwerty123 — Keyboard pattern

Strong passwords:

• Kx9#mP2$vL7@nQ4! — 16 characters, random mix
• 7hN2$kL9pM4wX8qR — 16 characters, no patterns