UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

A strong password is one that resists brute-force and guessing attacks by being sufficiently long, complex and unpredictable. Combining letters in different cases, digits and special characters increases the number of possible combinations dramatically. This reduces the likelihood that attackers can guess or crack it quickly. Hence the kind of password described in the stem is rightly called a strong password.

Option A:
Option A, default password, refers to factory-set credentials like "admin" or "1234" that are widely known and extremely insecure. They are the opposite of the secure practice promoted in the question.

Option B:
Option B is correct because security guidelines consistently advise users to create strong passwords with a mixture of character types and to avoid common words or patterns. The description given is a classic definition of password strength.

Option C:
Option C, plain text key, suggests that the password is stored or transmitted without encryption, which is a vulnerability rather than a protective measure. It does not refer to complexity or unpredictability.

Option D:
Option D, shared password, indicates that multiple people know the same secret, which undermines accountability and security. Sharing passwords is discouraged in good security policies.

Strong passwords usually combine upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and special characters in a non-obvious pattern. They should not be simple dictionary words or easily guessable sequences. The password in this option contains mixed characters and is longer than trivial strings, making it harder for attackers to crack through simple guessing. Therefore, it better reflects ICT security guidelines.

Option A:
This option uses a common word followed by a simple numeric sequence and is widely known as a weak example. Attackers often try such combinations first during brute-force or dictionary attacks. Hence, it does not meet strong password criteria.

Option B:
This option combines uppercase and lowercase letters with numbers and special symbols in a more complex structure. It is not a simple dictionary word and includes varying character types. Such complexity enhances resistance to guessing and automated attacks, aligning with recommended ICT practices.

Option C:
This option is very short and composed of sequential letters, making it easy to guess or brute-force. Short and predictable passwords significantly weaken account security. Thus, it is not suitable as a strong password.

Option D:
This option uses repeated digits and is extremely weak. Attackers often try such patterns early because they are common user choices. Therefore, it fails to follow any strong password guideline.