When people ask, “What should my password be?”, they usually expect a formula — add a symbol, include a number, substitute letters with characters. But that mindset is outdated. Attackers today aren’t sitting at keyboards trying to guess your password. They’re using stolen datasets, infostealers, automated cracking tools, and credential stuffing attacks that test millions of passwords in seconds.
A strong password is not about decorating a weak idea with symbols. It’s about creating long, unpredictable, unique credentials that don’t appear anywhere else — and storing them in a way attackers cannot access.
At Mindcore Technologies, weak credentials remain one of the top root causes behind compromised accounts, unauthorized access, ransomware events, and internal breaches. The good news: the rules for strong passwords are simple, practical, and easy to implement if you understand why they matter.
1. Make Your Password Long (16–20+ Characters)
Length matters more than complexity.
Attackers can crack short passwords — even complex ones — in minutes or seconds using GPU-powered tools.
Baseline recommendation:
- 16 characters for standard user accounts
- 20+ characters for admin or financial systems
Length increases security exponentially.
2. Use a Passphrase Instead of a Password
The strongest, easiest-to-remember credentials are passphrases:
Three to five unrelated words + a number or symbol.
Examples:
- Weak: R3dH@t99
- Strong: CoffeeRiverGalaxyRun2025!
A passphrase is easy to recall, hard to crack, and doesn’t rely on confusing symbol tricks that users forget anyway.
3. Every Password Must Be Unique
Reusing passwords is the fastest way attackers compromise multiple systems.
If one site is breached, everything else using that password becomes vulnerable.
Use a password manager to securely store and generate unique credentials automatically.
Mindcore Technologies deploys enterprise-grade password managers for clients so teams never rely on reused or predictable passwords again.
4. Avoid Personal Information Entirely
Attackers scrape social media to guess passwords based on:
- Birthdays
- Pet names
- Children’s names
- Favorite teams
- Addresses
- Company names
If it describes you, relates to you, or could be guessed about you — don’t use it.
5. Don’t Use Patterns or Predictable Variations
Avoid predictable habits like:
- “Password2024!”
- “WelcomeBack123”
- “Summer2025!”
- Keyboard patterns like “qwerty123!”
Attackers test these patterns first using automated dictionaries.
6. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Even a strong password can be stolen by:
- Infostealing malware
- Session hijackers
- Keyloggers
- Database leaks
MFA prevents attackers from using a stolen password alone.
Mindcore Technologies enforces MFA across all critical systems for clients, closing the gap even when credentials are exposed.
7. Use a Password Manager, Not Your Memory
Password managers:
- Generate long, random, unique passwords
- Store them in encrypted vaults
- Autofill securely
- Remove the risk of forgetting or reusing credentials
A password manager plus MFA is one of the strongest identity protection strategies available.
8. Rotate Passwords Based on Risk, Not Schedule
Forced monthly rotations create weaker passwords. Instead, rotate when:
- A breach is suspected
- An employee changes roles
- A password manager flags exposure
- A system shows suspicious activity
Mindcore’s credential exposure monitoring alerts organizations before attackers exploit stolen credentials.
Putting It All Together: What Should Your Password Actually Be?
A strong password should be:
✔ At least 16–20 characters long
✔ A passphrase made of random, unrelated words
✔ Something never reused anywhere else
✔ Stored only in a password manager
✔ Protected with MFA
✔ Free of personal information
Example of a strong passphrase:
Ocean7DrumCarpetSilverMoon!
Unrelated words = strong.
Length = secure.
Meaningful only to you = memorable.
How Mindcore Technologies Helps Businesses Build Strong Credentials
Mindcore strengthens identity security with:
- Enterprise password manager implementation
- Zero-trust authentication frameworks
- MFA and FIDO2 security key deployment
- Dark web & credential exposure monitoring
- Employee password hygiene training
- Identity governance and access control systems
With Mindcore’s solutions, weak passwords stop being an operational risk.
Final Thought
When you ask, “What should my password be?”, the real question is:
What password habits will keep my accounts — and business — safe?
Strong credentials start with better choices. Security comes from better systems.
Mindcore Technologies helps you build both.
