The Dangers of Weak Passwords and How to Create Strong Ones

Why weak passwords are risky

• Easy to guess: Hackers try common ones first: birthdays, “password1”, pet names.
• Password reuse = big risk: One leaked login could unlock your whole digital life.
• Brute force attacks: Automated tools can crack short/simple passwords in seconds.
• Data breaches happen daily: Weak, reused passwords make you an easy target.

Even an 8-character password can be cracked in hours with modern tools, while 12+ characters takes years or longer.

Safety reminders

• Go long — at least 12 characters.
• Mix it up — uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols.
• Skip obvious stuff — no birthdays, names, or football teams.
• Passphrases work — string random words together, e.g. Tree!Coffee7River.
• Unique everywhere — never reuse the same password.
• Use a password manager to generate and store secure logins.
• Switch on two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible.
• Enable biometrics (Face ID or fingerprint) for an extra layer of protection.
• Update old or reused passwords as soon as you can.
• Look out for passkeys — many services are starting to replace passwords with them, using Face ID or fingerprint instead.

Password managers are designed for this — they generate long, random logins you don’t have to memorise.

Tips for iPhone users

• Use iCloud Keychain to generate and store unique passwords.
• Enable two-factor authentication for your Apple ID and key apps.
• Check Settings > Passwords > Security Recommendations for weak or reused logins.

Apple flags compromised logins if they appear in known data breaches — don’t ignore these alerts.

Tips for Android users

• Use Google Password Manager (built into Chrome/Android).
• Turn on 2-step verification for your Google account.
• Check Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Security > Password Manager for weak or compromised passwords.

Google Password Manager also alerts you if a saved password has been exposed in a breach.

Benefits of strong passwords

• Keeps accounts secure: Hackers can’t just walk in.
• Limits damage: If one password leaks, the rest are safe.
• Protects personal data: Photos, chats, and files stay private.
• Peace of mind: Less stress about hacks or ID theft.
• Future ready: Passkeys are being introduced as a safer alternative, removing the need to remember or type passwords at all.