What constitutes a strong password?

A strong password is essential for safeguarding personal information, and the characteristics that define one include its complexity and length. The best answer highlights a strong password as one that contains at least 12 characters and incorporates a mix of numbers, symbols, uppercase letters, and lowercase letters.

This complexity makes it much harder for unauthorized individuals to guess or crack the password through brute force attacks or dictionary attacks. The requirement for a variety of character types increases the number of possible combinations significantly, enhancing security.

In contrast, a simple phrase or name lacks complexity and is typically easier for someone to guess. A password made up of a number followed by a word may still be predictable and does not meet the criteria for strength. Similarly, a password consisting only of letters or numbers also fails to provide the necessary complexity that enhances security. Thus, the option that incorporates multiple character types and a greater length is recognized as the best practice for password creation.