Strong Passwords — Your First Defense
Your PASSWORD is the first thing standing between your private accounts and people who shouldn't have access. Weak passwords get cracked in seconds. Strong passwords could take centuries to break. The difference matters more than most people realize.
Three rules. (1) LONG: at least 12 characters; 16+ is even better. Length matters more than complexity. (2) MIXED: include uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. (3) UNIQUE: never use the same password twice. If one account is breached, attackers will try that password everywhere else. A great approach: use a PASSPHRASE — 4-5 random words like "purple-banana-rocket-drum" — easy to remember, hard to crack.
Which is the STRONGEST password?
The smart move: use a PASSWORD MANAGER (Bitwarden, 1Password, Apple Keychain, etc.). It generates and stores unique strong passwords for every site. You only need to remember ONE master password (make it a long passphrase). Most are free or cheap. Compared to losing access to your accounts, it's a no-brainer.
Audit Your Top 3
Pick your three most important accounts (email, banking, school). For each, ask: is the password 12+ characters? Is it unique to that account? If not, change it now using a passphrase or password manager.
Strong, unique passwords are the foundation of online safety. Get this one habit right and you're ahead of 90% of internet users.
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