Have I been Pwned?

​The Importance of a Strong Password
Just as we protect our home, we must protect our online accounts. The key to keeping your information safe is to use a strong, hard-to-guess password. Here's what makes a strong password, how to create one, and why it's crucial to your online security.

 

What is a strong password?
A strong password is one that is complex and unique, making it difficult for attackers to crack. To ensure maximum security, a password must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum length: Must be at least 15 characters.

• Character diversity: Include upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special symbols (except periods ".").

• Randomness: Avoid predictable patterns such as sequences of consecutive numbers or letters.

• Originality: Do not use common words, names, or personal information that can be easily obtained.

• How to Create a Strong Password

Following these recommendations will help you create strong passwords:

1. Appropriate length: Opt for passwords with a minimum of 15 characters to make brute-force attacks more difficult.

2. Mix of characters: Use a combination of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special symbols.

3. Avoid sequences: Do not use sequences of consecutive letters or numbers.

4. No personal information: Avoid using personal information such as names, birth dates, or addresses.

5. Random phrases: You can use meaningless phrases that combine several words, special characters, and numbers.

Examples of strong passwords

• B3$7@v3ntur35_2024_

• #M1cR0$oft@Hom3!

• Tr@veling123*T1mes

Why it's crucial to have a strong password
A strong password protects your accounts from several attack methods commonly used by cybercriminals:

• Brute-force attacks: Attackers try all possible combinations. A strong password can make this process take years.

• Dictionary attacks: These use lists of common words. A password that doesn't contain common words will avoid being cracked by this method.

• Phishing: These trick users into revealing their passwords. A unique password for each account minimizes the risks if one is compromised.

• Credential stuffing: Hackers use credentials obtained from other breaches. Using unique passwords on each account thwarts these attempts.

Most commonly used weak passwords:

• 123456

• password

• qwerty

• 12345678

• abcdef

• abc123

• qwerty1234

• password

• admin1234

Additional tools and tips

1. Password managers: These tools can generate and store strong passwords for you, ensuring that each account has a unique password without needing to remember them all.

2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adding an extra layer of security through MFA ensures that even if your password is compromised, a second authentication factor is required to access your account.

Protecting your information online is more important than ever, so adopting strong password creation practices and using advanced security tools can make the difference between keeping your data safe and suffering a cyberattack.