How does increasing password complexity impact security?

Increasing password complexity enhances security by expanding the number of possible combinations that a password can have. This is mainly achieved by requiring longer passwords that incorporate a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. As the complexity increases, the number of potential combinations grows exponentially, making it significantly more challenging for attackers to guess or crack the password through brute-force methods.

For example, a simple password using only lowercase letters has far fewer combinations than a password that combines uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. This larger set of combinations provides greater resistance against both automated attacks and social engineering tactics, thereby strengthening overall security.

While the other options present scenarios that can undermine security or relate to misconceptions about password management, they do not contribute positively to the overall integrity of password protection as effectively as the increase in possible combinations does.