Best Practices for Strong Passwords

Most people don’t think twice about their passwords until something goes wrong. Maybe it’s a hacked email, a suspicious login alert, or worse, a drained bank account. The truth is, a strong password is still your first and most reliable line of defense. Here’s how you can make yours stronger without overcomplicating things.

Mix It Up

Think of your password like a recipe. If it’s just plain rice with only letters, it’s easy to guess. Add some spice with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters, and suddenly it’s much harder to crack. Just avoid the obvious stuff like “Password123!” because hackers try those first.

Make It Longer

Short and sweet might work for text messages, but not for passwords. Aim for at least 12 to 16 characters. The longer your password, the tougher it is for anyone to break into your account. Even adding a few extra words or symbols can make a huge difference.

Add a Safety Net with MFA

Even the strongest password is not perfect. That is where multi-factor authentication (MFA) comes in. It is like locking your front door and also having an alarm system. A hacker might get past one, but both together make it much less likely.

Don’t Reuse Passwords

Reusing passwords is like using the same key for your house, car, and office. If someone copies it, they have access to everything. Instead, use unique passwords for each account. Password managers can help so you don’t have to remember them all.

At the end of the day, strong passwords are not about being paranoid. They are about being prepared. With just a few tweaks, you can make life a lot harder for hackers and a lot safer for yourself.