How is a strong password defined?

A strong password is defined as being at least 12 characters long and featuring a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. This level of complexity is crucial because it greatly enhances a password's resistance to various types of attacks, including brute force attacks where attackers try to guess passwords through exhaustive attempts.

A longer password provides a larger combination of characters, which increases the number of possible variations an attacker must work through, making it significantly more difficult to crack. Additionally, incorporating both letters (upper and lower case), numbers, and special characters helps create a password that is not easily guessable. Such diversity ensures that common techniques like dictionary attacks (where common words are tried first) are less effective, as the inclusion of numbers and symbols makes the password less predictable.

In contrast, passwords that are shorter, lack complexity, or consist of easily remembered phrases are more vulnerable to being guessed or cracked by attackers. This aspect highlights the importance of adhering to best practices in password creation to maintain security.