SANS Assessment of Student Learning Plan (ASLP) Security Awareness Training

What is the best example of a strong and memorable password?

1. 12345678

2. password123

3. Elphant-Blue-42

4. qwertyuiop

The correct answer is: Elphant-Blue-42

A strong and memorable password is one that combines complexity with an element that is easy to recall. The example "Elphant-Blue-42" illustrates this principle effectively. It includes a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, a hyphen, and numbers, which increases its strength against brute-force attacks. Moreover, this password employs a technique known as "passphrase creation," where phrases can be both descriptive and memorable. By incorporating a recognizable word (like "Elphant" or "Blue") alongside a number, it engages the user's memory better than a series of predictable characters or commonly used passwords. This strategy not only makes it difficult for attackers to guess but also enhances the user’s ability to remember the password without needing to resort to simpler, insecure alternatives. In contrast, the other choices are widely recognized weak passwords that are prone to being easily guessed or cracked. They either consist of common patterns (like "12345678" or "qwertyuiop") or common words combined with numbers ("password123"), making them inadequate for safeguarding accounts effectively.