Why is it unsafe to use a dictionary word as your password?

Multiple Words Stop Dictionary Attacks # Although using a password that contains only dictionary words is not recommended, it is still common and can get hacked easily. But if users were to use only dictionary words in a passphrase, they would stay safe from this type of attack.

Should you use real words in passwords?

Adding the dictionary words does make the password stronger because it increases the entropy(randomness), but if you are going to create a random password of that length anyways you may as well use random characters for the whole password because that is even stronger. Anything that makes the password longer is good.

What should not be used in passwords?

Top 10 Worst Passwords That You Should Never Use

1. 12345. The overuse of 12345 dates back many years.
2. Your Social Security Number. The second worst password is a social security number.
3. Any Password Without a Number or Symbol.
4. StrongPassword.
5. password.
6. 696969.
7. Your Name.
8. Dream Board Passcodes.

What is a dictionary password attack?

A dictionary attack is a method of breaking into a password-protected computer, network or other IT resource by systematically entering every word in a dictionary as a password. Dictionary attacks work because many computer users and businesses insist on using ordinary words as passwords.

What are dictionary words for passwords?

A password dictionary is a file that contains a list of potential passwords. These lists are often referred to as dictionaries because they contain thousands or even millions of individual words. People often use plain English words or some small variation like a 1 for an i or a 5 for an s when they create passwords.

What is the best recommendation when it comes to passwords?

Avoid common words and character combinations in your password.

Longer passwords are better: 8 characters is a starting point.

Don’t recycle your passwords.

Avoid using passwords known to be stolen.

No need to periodically reset your password.

Use two-factor authentication (2FA) … but try to avoid text message codes.

What password should you always use?

A strong password is a unique word or phrase a hacker cannot easily guess or crack. Here are the main traits of a reliable, secure password: At least 12 characters long (the longer, the better). Has a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, and special symbols.

Are dictionary attacks effective?

Dictionary attacks are often successful, since many commonly used password creation techniques are covered by the available lists, combined with cracking software pattern generation.

Is 3 random words a strong password?

The blog post noted that using three random words to coin a password is more effective than traditional advice to create complex passwords, which can be difficult to remember and yet guessable for criminals.