Hey! So glad you are interested in making stronger passwords. In 2022, I made an article about Using a Password Manager & The Importance of Strong Passwords, and while I STILL RECOMMEND READING THIS, I'm going to show you today why short complex passwords are not as secure today.

When you make an account, you are told in the password field that it needs to be 8 characters, requires a symbol, and blah blah blah. A lot of people all fall into the same problem of re-using the same password over and over with small, difficult remember, alterations. Let's say, Eric, a Star Wars fan, uses this same password for everything.

Password: ToYoda

Then they get told that they need a number and a symbol, that might look something like this.

Complex password: T0yoD@

This password is difficult to remember and in the world of "hacking" only takes a few more seconds to crack.

Introducing, passphrases. A passphrase is a string of words used to make a password.

For example, a great password for Eric may be.

Passphrase: crafter unwitting sublime overrule

Ahh, I tricked you there, you thought it would be something with Yoda in it, but no. Another thing that makes passwords insecure is adding things you related to you them. Passwords should be unique so they can't be socially engineered. For example, don't make where you graduated in your password.

There is a site called Use a Passphrase and it will generate random passphrases every time you click the button. It's 100% secure and does not share your passwords (I checked). I tend to just click a few times until one of the combinations just sticks with me, I visualize a graphic of the words and put it into a scene that will help me remember. Here is a great comic to explain everything I have said above.