BeCyberSmart: How Fast Can a Hacker Break YOUR Password?

2023 Password Cracking Times: Faster Than You Think!

No. of Characters	Numbers Only	Lowercase Letters	Upper and Lowercase Letters	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols
No. of Characters 4	Numbers Only Instantly	Lowercase Letters Instantly	Upper and Lowercase Letters Instantly	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters Instantly	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols Instantly
No. of Characters 5	Numbers Only Instantly	Lowercase Letters Instantly	Upper and Lowercase Letters Instantly	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters Instantly	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols Instantly
No. of Characters 6	Numbers Only Instantly	Lowercase Letters Instantly	Upper and Lowercase Letters Instantly	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters Instantly	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols Instantly
No. of Characters 7	Numbers Only Instantly	Lowercase Letters Instantly	Upper and Lowercase Letters 1 sec	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters 2 secs	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols 4 secs
No. of Characters 8	Numbers Only Instantly	Lowercase Letters Instantly	Upper and Lowercase Letters 28secs	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters 2 mins	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols 5 mins
No. of Characters 9	Numbers Only Instantly	Lowercase Letters 3 secs	Upper and Lowercase Letters 24 mins	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters 2 hours	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols 6 hours
No. of Characters 10	Numbers Only Instantly	Lowercase Letters 1 min	Upper and Lowercase Letters 21 hours	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters 5 days	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols 2 weeks
No. of Characters 11	Numbers Only Instantly	Lowercase Letters 32 mins	Upper and Lowercase Letters 1 month	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters 10 months	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols 3 years
No. of Characters 12	Numbers Only 1 sec	Lowercase Letters 14 hours	Upper and Lowercase Letters 6 years	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters 53 years	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols 226 years
No. of Characters 13	Numbers Only 5 secs	Lowercase Letters 2 weeks	Upper and Lowercase Letters 332 years	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters 3k years	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols 15k years
No. of Characters 14	Numbers Only 52 secs	Lowercase Letters 1 year	Upper and Lowercase Letters 17k years	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters 202k years	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols 1m years
No. of Characters 15	Numbers Only 9 mins	Lowercase Letters 27 years	Upper and Lowercase Letters 898k years	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters 12m years	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols 77m years
No. of Characters 16	Numbers Only 1 hour	Lowercase Letters 713 years	Upper and Lowercase Letters 46m years	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters 779m years	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols 5bn years
No. of Characters 17	Numbers Only 14 hour	Lowercase Letters 18k years	Upper and Lowercase Letters 2bn years	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters 48bn years	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols 380bn years
No. of Characters 18	Numbers Only 6 days	Lowercase Letters 481k years	Upper and Lowercase Letters 126bn years	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters 2tn years	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols 26tn years

The Importance of Strong Passwords

Passwords are the first line of defense in protecting access to personal accounts and sensitive information online. A strong, unique password is crucial for the security of your digital profile. Unfortunately, with the convenience of digital technology comes the risk of hacking and data breaches. Employing a robust password is a simple, yet vital step to safeguard your digital identity.

Oberlin’s ObieID Password Policy

To enhance security for the Oberlin community, we’ve implemented a password policy for ObieID accounts. Here are the specifications for creating a strong ObieID password:

• The longer, the better: A password that is longer than 14 characters is ideal for optimum security.
• Must include at least:
  • One lower-case letter.
  • One upper-case letter.
  • One number (0–9).
  • One symbol (e.g., !@#$%^&*).
• Cannot include:
  • Part of the ObieID username.
  • User’s first name.
  • User’s last name.

This policy ensures that each ObieID password is complex and unique, making it difficult for cybercriminals to guess or crack your password through brute force attacks or other malicious methods.

Tips for Creating Strong Passwords

Beyond adhering to Oberlin’s password policy, consider the following general tips for creating and managing strong passwords:

• Use a passphrase: Consider using a passphrase—a sequence of words and other characters—rather than a simple word. This creates a longer password that’s harder to crack but can still be memorable.
• Avoid common words and phrases: Steer clear of using easily guessable passwords like “password”, “123456”, or “qwerty”. These are often the first options cybercriminals try.
• Update regularly: Change your passwords periodically. If a password is compromised, updating it can help protect your account from unauthorized access.
• Use a password manager: Remembering multiple strong passwords can be challenging. A password manager can generate and store complex passwords for you, significantly enhancing your online security.

Secure Your Digital World

Taking the time to create a strong password is a fundamental step in securing your digital life. With Oberlin’s ObieID password policy and these general password tips, you’ll be well on your way to protecting your accounts and personal information from cyber threats.

Stay tuned for more BeCyberSmart tips throughout Cybersecurity Awareness Month!