What characterizes weak passwords?

Weak passwords are characterized by their susceptibility to being easily guessable by attackers. This means that they tend to be simple, often composed of common words, phrases, or strings of numbers that can be quickly identified through guessing techniques or common password-cracking tools. Passwords like "123456," "password," or even easily accessible personal information such as birthdates can be considered weak because they do not provide a sufficient level of security.

In contrast, while complex passwords that require multiple symbols or frequent changes can enhance security, these characteristics alone do not define weak passwords. A strong password is typically long, includes a mix of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols, which makes it much harder for an unauthorized user to guess or crack compared to simpler and more predictable choices.