Hackers may try to guess your passwords to access your systems. A strong password can slow or stop them.
The NCSC has information on creating and managing passwords. Their tips include:
- use a strong, separate password for your email
- turn on multi-factor authentication
- use a password manager to create and remember passwords
- use 3 random words to create a password
3 random words
Rather than creating a password with numbers, symbols, or capital letters, combine 3 random words to create a password. For example, CamelThirstChocolate. This should create a memorable phrase that you can remember, but is harder for someone to guess.
Weak passwords
Weak passwords are easily cracked. They might include things like:
- significant dates, like birthdays
- favourite teams
- family and pet names
- information that can be easily found on social media profiles
Do not use common passwords like “password” or “password123”. Hackers can easily guess these.
Changing characters in your password (for example, changing a letter to a number or symbol) does not significantly strengthen your password. It can also make your password harder for you to remember.