Which aspect of SSH keys contributes to increased security?

The use of a longer duration "secret" than a password enhances security significantly. In SSH (Secure Shell), a key pair is generated consisting of a public key and a private key. The private key acts as a secret credential that is much longer and complex than typical passwords, making it much more resistant to brute-force attacks.

Longer secrets increase the key's entropy, providing a stronger defense against unauthorized access. Unlike passwords, which may be a short string of characters and can be easier to guess or crack, SSH keys typically consist of at least 2048-bit or even longer binaries, creating a far more complex authentication mechanism. Additionally, SSH keys can be used without the need for transmitting passwords over the network, which adds another layer of security since the secret remains locally stored. This characteristic of SSH keys as a longer and more complex "secret" contributes effectively to securing remote access and preventing unauthorized entry into systems.