Understanding why, and guidance on how…

What do we mean by a “complex password”?

A complex password is a strong, unique password made up of a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and—where permitted—symbols. It should not contain names, dictionary words, or anything easily recognisable. In simple terms, a good password should look like complete nonsense to anyone else.

Why is it important?

Weak passwords are easily cracked by attackers using specialist software. Using a complex password helps prevent unauthorised access, protects sensitive data, and reduces the risk of identity theft. Passwords are your first line of defence for securing accounts and systems.

What else should you know?

• Email passwords are particularly valuable to criminals, as email accounts can be used to gain access to other services
• Every password should be unique and never reused across multiple accounts
• Even if you think something like your dog’s name is hard to guess, password‑cracking tools are designed to find it
• Never write your passwords down
• Do not share passwords with anyone
• Use a password manager to securely store and generate passwords
  (We can recommend and demonstrate suitable options for your system—remember, access to your password manager is extremely sensitive)
• Regularly change important passwords, especially those used for email or network access