Page 68 - Cyber Safety C-5

STRONG AND WEAK PASSWORDS

When creating a password, it’s important to understand the difference between
strong and weak passwords. A strong password is designed to protect your

information, while a weak password can easily be guessed or cracked by attackers.
Below is a comparison between strong and weak passwords:

Strong Password Weak Password

Uses a mix of uppercase, lowercase, Only letters or numbers
numbers and symbols

Random and unpredictable, not Easy to guess
based on personal info

Unique for each account Reused across multiple accounts

Does not contain common words or Includes common words or simple

predictable patterns sequences

Often stored securely in password Stored in plain text or less secure
managers locations

Difficult for hackers to crack Easy for hackers to guess or break

Regularly updated for extra security Not updated frequently, often

neglected

Example: Xg5$7z@R8pT1 Example: qwerty, 12345

Common Password Mistakes to Avoid

Keeping your online accounts safe starts with choosing strong passwords. When

passwords are weak or predictable, it becomes easier for someone else to access
your accounts. Let’s understand this with a story.

Riya loved sharing pictures of her artwork and her pet cat online. She used her

date of birth as her Instagram password because it was easy to remember. The
next morning, she found silly posts and comments she never wrote and realised
someone had guessed her password and used her account to pretend to be her.

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