Which practice is recommended for creating a secure password?

Using a complex passphrase with mixed characters is the recommended practice for creating a secure password. This approach enhances password strength by incorporating a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, which makes it much harder for unauthorized individuals to guess or crack the password through brute force attacks.

Additionally, a complex passphrase often means using a longer string of characters, which further increases security. Such complexity helps to prevent common vulnerabilities, such as easy-to-guess passwords or those that follow predictable patterns.

In contrast, other practices, such as including specific words like "Aflac" or "duck," may be too predictable and could be easily targeted by attackers familiar with the organization's references. Making passwords easy to remember may lead to weaker choices that do not adhere to security best practices, while sharing passwords—even with trusted colleagues—introduces risks of unauthorized access and potential breaches. Thus, emphasizing a complex passphrase supports a robust security posture essential for protecting sensitive information.