Which characteristic is essential for a strong password?

A strong password is characterized by being long, complex, and not easily guessable. This is important because longer passwords with a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters significantly increase the number of possible combinations, making it much harder for attackers to crack the password through methods such as brute force attacks or dictionary attacks.

Such complexity also helps in mitigating the risks associated with common attacks, where hackers utilize personal information or predictable patterns to guess passwords. A password that incorporates a variety of character types and has sufficient length adds an extra layer of security, making it more resilient against various hacking techniques.

In contrast, shorter and simpler passwords, those based on easily accessible personal information, or passwords containing only letters tend to be weaker. They are more vulnerable to being guessed, especially through social engineering or dictionary listings, where common words and phrases are used as potential passwords. Therefore, ensuring a password is long and complex is a fundamental practice in safeguarding digital accounts and protecting sensitive information.