How strong are my passwords?

Last updated  12 December 2023

How strong is my password?: The strength of your password hinges on its length, complexity, unpredictability, and uniqueness. Ideal passwords are long, comprise a mix of character types, devoid of personal or common information, and are unique for each site.

Sadly, this crucial question often goes unanswered or, even worse, unnoticed.

Studies show that a person with an active digital life has 100 passwords on average. Yes, you read that right.

Are all these keys — your passwords — robust enough to keep unwanted guests out?

If this thought hasn't crossed your mind, or you're seeking guidance to fortify your next digital key, let's walk through four essential password defense strategies.

#1. The Peril of Repetitive Keys: The Case for Unique Passwords Everywhere

Have you ever used the same key for multiple locks?

It's a risky endeavour because if one lock is picked, all the doors swing wide open. The same rule applies to your passwords. 

Passwords should be different everywhere you use them. Password reuse is not a great idea because if you use the same password for all your online accounts and just one gets compromised, all other accounts become jeopardized. 

#2. The Power of Frequent Change

Simple as that. 

A majority of security experts suggest reinventing your passwords every few months.

Stolen passwords are like time bombs; they don't always detonate instantly. Frequently altering your passwords minimizes the chances of a devastating blow.

#3. Don't Write Them Down!

Finally, if you want to keep your password safe, don't leave them out for others to see!

Even the strongest key is futile if left in plain sight.

If you have trouble remembering all your passwords, a password manager can help you stop the bad habit of reusing passwords.

A password manager program allows you to store, generate, and manage all your passwords for applications and online services.

A password manager assists in generating and retrieving complex passwords, storing such passwords in an encrypted password vault, or even creating secure and complex passwords for you.

#4. Make them Mysterious – Something Someone Wouldn't easily Guess.

The rule of thumb is usually: if it's in the dictionary, it's not a strong password.

Can a locksmith easily duplicate your key? When it comes to passwords, the easier it is to guess, the weaker it is.

That favourite pet name, the city where you were born, or your beloved football team should not form your digital armour.

It's akin to leaving your key under the doormat — the first place an intruder would look.

Adding numbers isn't necessarily a winning move, particularly if those digits form your birthday or graduation year. However, a concoction of symbols, numerals, and letters — both upper and lower case — makes a password robust. For an added layer of complexity, try sprinkling the capital letters randomly or spelling a word backwards.

As this list of common tricks to guess someone's password shows, these are the things hackers would try first. 

Experts also recommend creating passwords out of three words or more to make them longer and harder to crack.

As you continue to navigate the sprawling cityscape of your digital life, take a moment to examine the strength of your keys — your passwords. After all, a city is only as secure as its weakest lock.

Examples of a Strong Password

FAQs on Password Strength

Do You Know Your Password is Safe?

It's kind of like knowing if your bike is locked up tight. You can't be 100% sure unless you've taken precautions. Has your password got a mix of uppercase lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols? Are you sure you're not using it on more than one site?

If you're nodding along, then it's likely your password is pretty secure!

How Long Does It Take to Crack a Password?

Cracking a password can take anywhere from a few seconds to centuries!

It's all about the complexity of your password. If it's something simple like 'password123', a hacker's computer can crack that before you finish your coffee. But a password with a mix of characters, symbols, and numbers? That could take the hacker's computer a few hundred years!

What Is the Safest Password Ever?

Honestly, the safest password ever is like the golden ticket in Willy Wonka—it's unique!

Ideally, it's a long, complex, and random mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. It's unrelated to personal information like your name, birthday, or pet's name. Think more along the lines of "gJ8#lP27&kQ9!".

Oh, and remember, don't reuse it. Each account gets its own unique golden ticket!

What Passwords Should You Avoid?

You'll want to avoid anything obvious like 'password', '123456', or 'qwerty'.

And steer clear of personal info like your name, pet name, or birthday. Anything someone could easily guess or learn about you is a no-go. Remember, creating a password should be more like creating a secret code than a memoir!

Below is a guide to the factors you need to consider when creating a new password:

Interested to learn more? Carry on reading our cybersecurity tips and best practices.