How to Generate Strong Passwords and Protect Your Data

Data privacy is more important than ever. Every day, cybercriminals are trying to crack weak passwords and gain access to sensitive information. So how can you protect yourself? One simple step is generating strong, unique passwords for every account. In this article, I’m sharing the same tips I teach hundreds of people to help protect their accounts from being compromised. It may sound simple but I promise it gets more fun now!

Why Do You Need a Strong Password?

A strong password makes it significantly harder for hackers to break into your accounts. If your password looks similar to this:

P455W0RD5 L1K3 TH15 H3LP5 K33P TH3 B4D P30PL3 4W4Y

…then you already understand the importance of complexity! The harder it is for a hacker (or bot) to guess your password, the safer your accounts remain.

Choosing Between Consistent vs. Scrambled Passwords

There are two primary strategies for password creation: consistent, personalized encryption and scrambled, manager-reliant encryption.

Option A: Consistent Yet Unique Passwords

A consistent password strategy helps you remember your credentials while keeping them unique to each platform. A simple formula like this works:

Yourname4Proton@2025

• Your name (easy to remember)
• 4 (stands for “for”)
• Platform name (e.g., Proton, Rumble, LinkedIn, etc.)
• @ (or another special character)
• 2025 (easily updatable each year)

This method allows you to keep track of your passwords without writing them down. Be mindful, if someone gets access to your email address, they may try to guess your passwords based on this pattern if they know that you use it. The chances are near to impossible especially when you add 2FA (2-step verification factor using an Authenticator app). To enhance security, feel free to switch up your chosen word, number, or special character.

Option B: Scrambled Passwords with a Password Manager

For the highest level of security, use randomly generated passwords. Proton’s Password Generator is an excellent tool for this.

Here are some examples of randomly Proton generated passwords:

• )phwfw+qhqNd21dm
• m6=K0R+PVd1$^swD
• 8Y8W3>Rp[N0MxrV#
• weQvr)G#d5b)=D>w

How to Generate Strong Passwords and Protect Your Data

These passwords are practically impossible to guess but also nearly impossible to memorize. That’s where a password manager like Proton Pass comes in. It securely stores all your passwords and allows you to autofill them with a single click — no memorization required!

The Password Problem: Most Users Forget Their Credentials

A report from Softpedia found that:

• 8 in 10 users forget their passwords and require a reset.
• 3 in 10 users store their passwords in text documents (which can be unsafe!).
• 28% of users create unique passwords, while 72% reuse passwords across multiple accounts (a major security risk!).

By adopting either a personalized but consistent or scrambled, manager-reliant approach, you can improve your security while ensuring you don’t get locked out of your accounts.

Which Password Strategy is Right for You?

• If you prefer memorization, go with a consistent password formula.
• If you want maximum security, use a password manager to store scrambled passwords.
• For ultimate protection, combine both methods by using a password manager for highly sensitive accounts while keeping a structured approach for others.

***** BONUS TIPS ******

Protect Your Email with Proton’s Alias Feature

Privacy activists, I’ve got an amazing last advice to give you all by using Proton’s Pass.

When signing up for a newsletter or a suspicious account that you may not want to keep, you don’t have to provide your personal email address. Proton can generate a fake email alias with just one click, while also generating a secure password for the account.

Once you’re signed up, all emails from that account will be forwarded directly to your main Proton inbox, without the sender ever knowing your true email address!

I personally use this feature for affiliate marketing newsletters where I don’t want my main Proton email stored in their databases. Some people use an alias for every single account! It works seamlessly, allowing me to unsubscribe or delete the alias anytime without leaving a trace.

It’s not magic — it’s Proton!

By taking these steps, you’ll protect your data from cyber threats and make life harder for hackers. Ready to take control of your privacy?

Join the privacy movement and sign up with a free or discounted Proton subscription here.

Contact Me

Thank you for taking time to read this article I made with your protection in mind. Whether you’re interested in switching to a fully end-to-end encrypted suite that puts your privacy first or just looking for more information, I am here to help. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or reach me at [email protected].

Fight until data_privacy = True