What role does complexity play in password strength?

Complexity plays a crucial role in enhancing password strength primarily by reducing the risk of brute force and dictionary attacks. A complex password typically includes a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, making it significantly more difficult for an attacker to guess the password through these common exploitation methods.

Brute force attacks involve systematically attempting every possible combination until the correct password is found, while dictionary attacks use a predefined list of likely passwords, including common words and phrases. Passwords that lack complexity are often more susceptible to these types of attacks, as attackers can guess simpler passwords much more quickly.

Moreover, passwords that are more complex increase the effort and computational resources required for an attacker to succeed in breaching an account. This means that the time taken to crack such passwords grows exponentially, thereby increasing security for users and systems.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the significance of complexity in password strength. While it might be true that some complex passwords can be challenging to remember, which can lead to users writing them down (posing another security risk), this does not describe the primary benefit of complexity. Similarly, while complexity is essential for all accounts rather than just administrative ones, it also does not inherently relate to the likelihood of account lockout,