Which of the following is a strong password policy?

A strong password policy is essential for ensuring the security of user accounts and sensitive information. The chosen option, which emphasizes a minimum length of 12 characters and includes a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, is considered effective for several reasons.

Firstly, longer passwords significantly increase the number of possible combinations, making them more resistant to brute-force attacks, where an attacker systematically tries every possible password. By setting a threshold of 12 characters, the complexity and difficulty of guessing or cracking the password increase dramatically compared to shorter options.

Incorporating a variety of character types—uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols—further enhances password strength. This complexity helps defend against common password-cracking techniques, such as dictionary attacks, which involve trying combinations based on commonly used passwords or phrases.

In contrast, requiring at least 8, 10, or even 12 characters without a character variety might not provide as strong a defense. While these measures improve security, they do not leverage the full ability to resist modern cracking techniques that exploit shorter and simpler passwords. Allowing only lowercase letters severely limits the password complexity and creates significant vulnerabilities, making it far less secure than the combination described in the selected option.

Thus, the comprehensive