How to Make a Strong Password

Creating a password is something you do often online — for email, shopping, or banking. It’s tempting to use a short, easy password, but that can put your personal information at risk. A strong password is harder to guess and helps protect your accounts.

Why Strong Passwords Matter

Even though many websites are secure, there’s always some risk. Hackers might try to break into your accounts and steal your data. A strong password helps prevent that from happening.

Tips for Strong Passwords

A good password should be easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess. Here are some simple tips:

• Don’t use personal info like your name, birthday, or email.
• Make it long — at least 10 characters is ideal.
• Mix things up by combining upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Avoid real words such as “summer2024.”
• Use different passwords for each account.
• Try random passwords with a password generator.

Password Mistakes to Avoid

• Using personal info and real words: Too easy to guess. Try something random like chEwbAccAp!ZZa.
• Making it too short: Use at least 10 characters, e.g. p3MberLY%Av.
• Using simple patterns: “123456” or “abcde” are weak. Try #eV$pIg&qf.

You can use mnemonics to remember random passwords. For example, H=jNp2# can be remembered as Harry = Jessica North Paris 2 #.

• Using the same password everywhere: If one account gets hacked, all others are at risk.

Using a Password Manager

It can be difficult to remember many strong passwords. Password managers safely store them and can even auto-fill your login details.

Conclusion

Using strong passwords is one of the easiest ways to protect your personal information online. Follow these simple rules and use a password manager to keep your accounts safe.

5 FAQs of Strong Passwords

What makes a password strong?

A strong password uses a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, and doesn’t include personal information or dictionary words.

How long should my password be?

At least 10 characters is recommended — the longer, the better.

Should I use the same password for multiple accounts?

No. Always use a unique password for each account to limit damage if one is compromised.

What’s the best way to remember strong passwords?

Use a password manager or create a mnemonic that only you understand.

Are password managers safe to use?

Yes. Reliable password managers use strong encryption to protect your data securely.