The system administrator can set the password policy (minimum length, requirement of special characters, password expiry) through the utility included in this configuration program (run as root):
linuxconf
under the menu "user account"-"policies"-"password & account policies". Normal users won't be able to set a password which is too short, is a dictionary word, or does not contain the prescribed number of non-alphanumeric characters (but root can change any password to anything s/he likes, s/he will only be given a warning).
Also make sure that any file that contains any password of yours (e.g., /root/.kde/share/config/kppprc) has proper, secure permissions so that it cannot be read by anybody. For example, most likely you want:
chmod 600 kppprc
If you use an "over the phone" Internet connection for just a couple of hours a week, you may be fine even with a relatively weak password on your system. But please really reconsider your system security if you use a cable modem, or are otherwise connected to the Internet for a significant amount of time.
Most computer semi-literate use amazingly weak passwords. "Around 50 percent of computer users base passwords on the name of a family member, partner or a pet. Thirty percent look to a pop idol or sporting hero," reports CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/ptech/03/13/dangerous.passwords/index.html). Please note the underlined base. Appending a digit to an obvious word hardly makes the password more secure.
