Password Creation Principles
Based on these threats, a cyber defender would recommend these password creation principles:
- Length: Longer passwords are significantly harder to crack. Aim for at least 12 -16 characters.
- Complexity: Combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. This increases the complexity and makes it harder for brute force attacks.
- Avoid Personal Information: Don't use birthdays, names, pet names, or other easily guessable information.
- Avoid Common Patterns: Refrain from using sequences (like "123456") or keyboard patterns.
- Unique Passwords: Use a different password for each account.
- Additional Considerations
• Password Strength Estimators: Many online tools can assess password strength.
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): While not a password replacement, 2FA adds an extra layer of security.
• Regular Password Changes: While not a standalone solution, consider changing passwords periodically.
• User Education: Train users about password best practices to prevent social engineering attacks.