What is a strong password, and why does it matter?
We live in a world where we are barraged with more online apps, virtual platforms, online services, and digital accounts than ever before. And, every single one of them requires a password. Whether it’s your Hulu login credentials or online banking double encryption, you need strong passwords to protect yourself and your personal information, no matter where you go on the internet.
Combine your ever-growing list of digital accounts with the increasing frequency of data breaches and cybercriminals lying in wait, it is smart to ask yourself, “Just how strong is my password?” and “How many passwords do I really need?” Read our tips on what makes a strong password and how to make a good password to keep yourself, your data, and your personal information protected.
How to Create a Strong Password
In reality, it’s common for people to use the same passwords for years. But, experts recommend using a different complex password for every site and account. Let’s face it, it’s less daunting to remember one or two passwords with slight variations. The problem is that many of us not only use similar passwords multiple times, but we also use these same variations across multiple platforms. There are two problems with this:
That means if you’ve saved your personal data or forms of payment on one site, you’ve potentially opened yourself up to breaches on another site by using the same password in both places.
For example, perhaps you use the password DogLover123 for your online bank account. Your bank likely has strong security. However, if you also used that same password for your Yahoo email address, your credentials could be at risk. Yahoo experienced one of the largest data breaches in history, compromising all 3 billion user accounts. Similarly, in 2024, a breach at National Public Data (NPD) exposed nearly 2.9 billion sensitive records—including names, Social Security numbers, and plaintext passwords—due to poor security practices. If your password was compromised in either breach, cybercriminals could use it to access more secure accounts like your bank, especially if you’ve reused it.
This is why your passwords need to be not only complex and unique in structure, but also unique per platform. Reusing the same password across sites dramatically increases your risk when a breach occurs. To help avoid this, use a strong password generator or a random password generator strong enough to reduce the chances of a successful brute-force attack. If you’re stuck trying to come up with new ones, a password manager can suggest strong password options and even generate strong password entries for each account automatically.
How to Remember Your Passwords
Our number one tip for remembering all those passwords is to use a password manager. There are several advantages to using a password manager, like one of these recommended by PCMag. First, password managers use encryption to keep all your passwords secure in a single location. This beats any spreadsheet or handwritten list because it provides secure, encrypted access. Second, most password managers have the option to autogenerate, save, and autofill your passwords. These features make it easy to remember, store, and secure your passwords. But if you’re looking for an alternative to generate your own strong passwords, we have some examples and tips to help with that, too.
Things to Avoid When Creating Passwords
Weak vs. Strong Passwords
Weak passwords are easy to spot and easy to hack. Our DogLover123 example above is a prime candidate for what to avoid. Here are examples that illustrate what not to do:
DO NOT USE…
…common words, phrases, or names. A good rule of thumb is to avoid using words found in the dictionary for your password. You also shouldn’t use any information a stranger could know about you. For example, your first or last name, date of birth, year you graduated, etc.
DO NOT USE…
…sequential letters, numbers, and symbols. No more ABC, 123, or !@#. These are easy to guess and leave you vulnerable to hacking.
DO NOT USE…
…something that relates to our hobbies or interests. Reach outside your interests, especially for your password hints.
What is an Example of a Strong Password?
Strong Password Examples
An easy way to make a strong, memorable password is to make it a sentence. For example, if your password was DogLover123, an alternative making the password stronger would be I<3myGoldenDoodle! Here are some more strong password examples:
- XVwlNNx4rh9W
- N4]39#(^h{CV
- [‘K&mU
How Strong is Your Password?
Think your password is strong enough? It might not be. Even passwords that look complicated can be surprisingly easy for cybercriminals to crack, especially if they’ve appeared in a past data breach.
Here’s a quick way to gut-check your current password strength:
Also, remember that even strong passwords have limits. That’s why pairing them with two-factor authentication (2FA) is crucial. 2FA adds an extra layer of protection – even if your password gets compromised, hackers still can’t get in without that second verification step.
When in doubt, lean on a password manager. These tools generate and store strong passwords so you don’t have to remember each one. It’s a game changer for both security and convenience. Here are some great recommendations.
Don’t Wait for a Wake-Up Call
We get it – managing passwords isn’t the most exciting part of your day. But with cyber threats becoming more frequent and more sophisticated, strong password habits aren’t just smart – they’re necessary.
The good news? You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. From picking the right password manager to setting up 2FA for your team or family, we can help make things easier and more secure. Let’s simplify your security.
