What are the characteristics of strong passwords?

Strong passwords are characterized by their length, complexity, and variety of characters. A long password is generally more secure because it increases the number of possible combinations, making it significantly harder for attackers to guess or crack the password using brute-force methods.

In addition to being lengthy, a strong password incorporates a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. This diversity in character types adds layers of complexity, making it difficult for automated tools to successfully decipher the password. A password that follows this formula is much less likely to be vulnerable to common attack techniques, such as dictionary attacks or guessing.

Other options, such as those that suggest passwords should be short, simple, numeric-only, or consist solely of lowercase letters, do not provide adequate security. Passwords that are easy to remember may also sacrifice strength and complexity, rendering them more susceptible to being compromised.

Thus, the characteristics provided in the correct choice ensure that a password is robust against various cyber threats, promoting safer online practices.