Likewise, some very long passwords appear in password dumps with remarkable frequency. Here’s an example of a randomly generated passphrase using the free web-based Bitwarden Password Generator:Įxample of a randomly generated passphrase using the free web-based Bitwarden Password Generator.Īnother way to strengthen passwords is to avoid commonly-used dictionary words or repeated or sequential characters, such as “secret”. Using a passphrase helps as it combines memorable words or phrases known to the user but less recognizable by hackers. When password complexity meets randomnessĪ password’s overall randomness also contributes to better password security, and passphrases are an easy way to achieve that. Now, rather than one million possible combinations, 2,176,782,336 possible combinations exist for a six-character password.

However, a six-character password consisting of numbers and lowercase letters has thirty-six options for each character (0 – 9 plus a – z). If a password is six numerical characters in length, a hacker can attempt one million possible combinations (10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10). It is also recommended that the mix of characters be completely random and unrelated to your personal information.Ī password consisting exclusively of numerical characters has only ten possible options for each character (0 – 9). In general, a wider spectrum of letters plus numbers, capital letters, and special characters will increase complexity and strengthen your passwords. Some websites and services require numbers, capital letters, and special characters.

Do I need to use numbers, capital letters, and special characters?

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