How to Create Strong Passwords

A strong password is one of the most effective ways to protect your accounts from cybercriminals. Weak or reused passwords can be easily guessed, cracked, or stolen, leaving your personal and financial information vulnerable. Below are proven tips to help you build stronger, safer passwords.

Use a Mix of Characters

Combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (like !@#$%^&*) to make your password harder to crack.

Make It Long

Passwords should be at least 12–16 characters long. The longer the password, the more secure it becomes against brute-force attacks.

Avoid Reusing Passwords

Never use the same password across multiple accounts. If one account is compromised, attackers could gain access to all your accounts.

Don’t Use Personal Information

Avoid birthdays, names, addresses, or anything that can be easily guessed or found on social media. Hackers often use this information in targeted attacks.

Consider Using a Passphrase

Instead of random characters, try a passphrase made of unrelated words, such as BlueHorse!River$Sunset92. These are easier to remember and still highly secure.

Use a Password Manager

Password managers generate, store, and auto-fill strong, unique passwords for all your accounts—so you don’t need to memorize them.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Even the strongest password can be compromised. Adding 2FA provides an extra layer of security by requiring a code sent to your phone or email, or generated by an authenticator app.