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However, asking users to remember a password consisting of a "mix of uppercase and lowercase characters" is similar to asking them to remember a sequence of bits: hard to remember, and only a little bit harder to crack (e.g. only 128 times harder to crack for 7-letter passwords, less if the user simply capitalises one of the letters).
Authentication programs can vary as to the list of allowable password characters. Some do not recognize case differences (e.g., the upper-case "E" is considered equivalent to the lower-case "e"), and others prohibit some of the other symbols. In the past few decades, systems have permitted more characters in passwords, but limitations still exist.
1) Go long: Aim for passwords that are at least 20 characters long. 2) Mix it up: Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special symbols. 3) Unique is key: Never reuse ...
Create a long and unique password – Consider creating or changing a password to a length of at least 16 characters. It should include upper and lower case letters, numbers, special characters ...
However, asking users to remember a password consisting of a "mix of uppercase and lowercase characters" is similar to asking them to remember a sequence of bits: hard to remember, and only a little bit harder to crack (e.g. only 128 times harder to crack for 7-letter passwords, less if the user simply capitalizes one of the letters).
4 bits (1st character) + 14 bits (characters 2–8) + 18 bits (characters 9–20) + 3 bits (characters 21–23) + 6 bits (bonus for upper case, lower case, and alphanumeric) = 45 bits (This calculation does not take into account that this is a well-known quote from the operetta H.M.S. Pinafore .
It's relatively easy to remember upper and lower case combinations, and increasing the number of characters to choose from 26 to 52 gives a useful increase in strength. For example, a 12 character password consisting of only lower case gives 10^17 combinations, while 12 upper/lower case characters provides 3 x 10^21 combinations.
To generate upper/lower case characters or some symbols a coin flip can be used, heads capital, tails lower case. If a digit was selected in the dice rolls, a heads coin flip might select the symbol above it on a standard keyboard, such as the '$' above the '4' instead of '4'.