Online security has always been a top priority for me, particularly in safeguarding my personal data. A critical component of robust online security measures includes the creation of a strong password. In this piece, I aim to emphasize the significance of incorporating special characters into your passwords and the considerable improvement they can bring to your online protection.
What is a special character password?
A special character password is a password that includes characters other than letters and numbers. These characters can be symbols, punctuation marks, or any other non-alphanumeric characters. Examples of special characters include “@”, “#”, “$”, “%” and “&”. By including special characters in your password, you add an extra layer of complexity that makes it harder for hackers to crack it.
Why are special characters important?
Using special characters in your password greatly increases its complexity, making it exponentially harder for hackers to guess or crack. Special characters add a whole new set of possibilities to your password, increasing the number of possible combinations and making it virtually impossible to guess.
Imagine you have a password that consists of only lowercase letters and numbers. The number of possible combinations for an 8-character password would be 36^8, which is around 2.8 trillion. However, if you include special characters in your password, the number of possible combinations increases dramatically.
For example, if you include just one special character in your 8-character password, the number of possible combinations becomes 95^8, which is around 6.6 quadrillion. Adding just one special character has increased the number of possible combinations by more than two thousand times!
Tips for creating a strong special character password
- Use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Avoid using common words or phrases, as they are easily guessable.
- Make your password at least 12 characters long to ensure maximum security.
- Do not use personal information such as your name, birthdate, or address in your password.
- Consider using a password manager to generate and store your strong passwords securely.
Conclusion
Using a password that includes special characters is a simple yet effective way to enhance your online security. By adding special characters to your password, you increase its complexity and make it extremely difficult for hackers to crack. Remember, online security is crucial, and taking a few extra steps to create a strong password can go a long way in protecting your personal information.
