How to Create a Strong Password in 7 Easy Steps

According to cybersecurity experts at the University of North Georgia, a cyber attack occurs every 39 seconds, and 80% of these attacks are linked to weak passwords. Despite the growing awareness, many users still rely on easily guessable credentials like “123456” or personal details. In 2024, as cyber threats continue to evolve, having a robust password is more essential than ever to protect your personal and business data.

In this blog, we’ll cover 7 practical steps to help you create strong passwords and defend your accounts from hackers.

Weak passwords continue to pose significant cybersecurity risks, leading to financial losses, operational disruptions, and reputational damage.

In 2024, cybercrime is projected to cost the global economy $9.5 trillion, with weak passwords being a primary vulnerability exploited in these attacks.

A study revealed that 31% of organizations experienced network outages or downtime due to cyber incidents, with weak password policies often contributing to these breaches.

In 2022, LastPass, a password management company, suffered a data breach where attackers accessed customer data and partially encrypted password vaults, leading to significant reputational harm and loss of customer trust.

These examples underscore the critical importance of implementing strong password policies and comprehensive cybersecurity measures to mitigate associated risks.

What Is a Strong Password?

A strong password is not just a random combination of characters. It’s a carefully constructed key that should be difficult for both humans and machines to crack. What makes a strong password is the use of randomness, length, and variety. Many users still use their names, birthdates, or even simple words, making their passwords easily guessable. A secure password avoids predictability and combines letters, numbers, and symbols to create something that's hard to decipher.

7 Steps To Create a Strong Password

Creating a strong password doesn’t have to be complicated. By following these 7 simple steps, you can build a secure password that will protect your personal and business data from unauthorized access.

Let’s dive into the key practices for ensuring your passwords are up to today’s cybersecurity standards:

Make It 12 Characters or Longer

Length is one of the most important factors when you create a strong password. A password should be at least 12 characters long. The longer your password, the more difficult it is for brute force attacks to succeed. Short passwords, even if they include special characters, are vulnerable. So, aim for 12 characters or more to ensure you’re keeping your accounts safe.

Use a Combination of Letters, Numbers and Symbols

A strong password uses a variety of characters. Make sure to include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols like @, #, or %. Following the "8-4 Rule" (using at least eight characters and one symbol from each of the four categories) ensures complexity, making your password harder to crack. This mix is key when you want to create secure passwords.

Do Not Use Personal Data

Avoid using any personal information, like your name, birthdate, or even your pet’s name, in your passwords. Hackers often rely on social engineering tactics to guess passwords by exploiting personal information found on social media. Including personal data might make a password easier to remember, but it also makes it easier to hack. The fewer obvious clues you give, the safer you are.

Combine Unrelated Words

Merging random, unrelated words into a strong password enhances its security. This technique, often called the “passphrase method,” creates a memorable yet hard-to-guess password. For instance, a password like “SunsetBreeze88Horse” is far more secure than something predictable like “Password123.” When you combine unrelated terms, you increase randomness, which is the foundation of a secure password.

Avoid Words As They Are In the Dictionary

Dictionary attacks are a common technique hackers use to crack weak passwords by systematically guessing common words. A password made from standard dictionary words is highly vulnerable. Instead of “Bookworm123,” consider altering the word or mixing it with numbers and symbols, such as “B00kw0rm@123.” This adds complexity while keeping it memorable.

Change Your Password Regularly

Even if you've created a strong password, you need to update it regularly. Cyber threats evolve, and while one password may be secure today, it might not be tomorrow. Regularly changing your passwords, especially for critical accounts, can prevent unauthorized access. This is a basic yet essential practice for anyone managing multiple online accounts.

Use a Password Manager

A password manager is one of the best tools available when it comes to creating secure passwords. These tools generate and store complex, unique passwords for all your accounts, ensuring you never have to rely on the same one twice. With features like encryption and autofill, they make managing dozens of strong passwords a breeze. Popular options in 2024 include Bitwarden, 1Password, and Keeper, all of which offer secure and easy-to-use platforms.

How to Easily Spot a Weak Password?

Weak passwords are often short, predictable, and based on personal information. They tend to use consecutive characters like "123456" or rely on personal details such as "JohnDoe1990." If a password contains your name, birthday, or common phrases like “password” or “letmein,” it’s likely weak and prone to hacking attempts.

Reusing the same password for multiple accounts is another red flag that compromises security.

What Is an Example of a Strong Password?

Strong password examples follow the guidelines we’ve discussed. A good example is “$7H@n3#Waterfall,” which uses 12+ characters, includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and is entirely random.

Another would be the passphrase "Mountain*Breeze99+Tree," which combines unrelated terms and symbols.

Both of these examples are hard to guess, memorable, and meet the complexity requirements of most websites and services.

Ways To Protect Your Passwords Online

Even a strong password needs extra layers of protection. To fully secure your accounts, follow these key steps:

• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adds another layer of security beyond your password.
• Monitor for Suspicious Activity: Regularly check for unusual logins or actions.
• Use a Password Manager: It helps you create strong passwords and secures them across devices.
• Avoid Phishing Scams: Stay alert to phishing attempts disguised as legitimate messages. Learn more in this phishing trends article.

Strengthen Your Password Security Using Keepnet’s Comprehensive Awareness Solutions

Cybercriminals are constantly improving their tactics, and the best way to protect your business is through regular security awareness training. Keepnet provides tailored training solutions that teach your employees how to recognize threats, create secure passwords, and defend against attacks like phishing, ransomware, and social engineering.

Keepnet’s security awareness training includes hands-on simulations for phishing (email, voice, SMS, QR code, MFA, etc.), helping employees learn to spot and stop attacks before they happen. From creating strong passwords to handling complex threats, the training is customized to your company’s needs, ensuring targeted education based on employee behavior.

With cybercrime expected to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025, according to Cybersecurity Ventures, the risks are real—financial losses, data breaches, and reputational damage. Keepnet’s platform ensures employees are fully prepared with practical skills to keep your business safe.

Editor's Note: This blog was updated on December 6, 2024.