Why password security is so important

Sure, it may seem frustrating at times when a website gives you seemingly ridiculous password requirements - "What do you mean I need 27 characters, 18 numbers, 4 symbols and a wingding?!"

But believe it or not, there is a very serious security reason behind this. Your password is the first, and often the only, line of defense between your personal or business data and a hacker. In fact, it's surprising just how quickly a simple password (i.e. one that's made up of only letters or only numbers) can be cracked with the right equipment:

So just remember - more complexity = more secure.

A password like: Password 1 (which only mixes letters and numbers) is cracked in the time it takes an arrow to hit a target.

But a password like: P@ssw0rD! (which mixes capital and lowercase letters, symbols and numbers) is cracked in the same time it took to build Mt. Rushmore - 14 years!

So some good rules of thumb to follow when creating a password:

• Include upper and lowercase letters

• Include both numbers and symbols (if allowed)

• The more characters the better

Additional processes, like two-step authentication, can offer even further protection in addition to a password - which we'll discuss more in a future post.