What are the characteristics of strong passwords?

Strong passwords are characterized by their ability to resist attacks and enhance security. One significant feature of a strong password is the inclusion of a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. This variety makes it more difficult for attackers to guess or crack the password using methods such as brute force attacks, where numerous combinations are tried rapidly.

Incorporating uppercase and lowercase letters, along with numerals and special characters, increases the complexity and entropy of the password. This complexity means that even if the password is relatively short, its diversity makes it much harder for someone to predict or crack. Passwords that follow this guideline are typically more resistant to commonly used password-guessing techniques.

Other options suggest characteristics that would actually reduce the strength of a password, such as being short and simple or consisting solely of dictionary words or numeric characters. These strategies leave passwords vulnerable to various attack methods like dictionary attacks or simple brute force techniques, thus underscoring the importance of creating passwords with a mix of different types of characters.