Passwords that conform to rules of length, complexity, and unpredictability are no harder to guess than passwords that do not conform to such rules. When a password is written down, it increases the chances that someone will be able to use that password to gain unauthorized access to the user 's account. When users who forget their passwords are locked out of their own accounts, they must often go through a complicated process in order to have their accounts unlocked. People who use mnemonic devices to help remember their passwords are able to easily remember passwords that are long, complex, and unpredictable.
Requiring that passwords conform to rules of length, complexity, and unpredictability increases the likelihood of someone gaining unauthorized access to a user' s account. Since most user accounts are automatically locked after a certain number of incorrect password guesses, it is usually impossible to gain access by guessing a password. However, because complex passwords can be hard to remember, users often write them down.
The overall conclusion of the argument is strongly supported if which one of the following is assumed?