Most data breaches do not happen because hackers cracked a complex password - they happen because people reuse simple passwords across sites, and one site gets breached. A strong password strategy means every account has a unique, randomly generated password stored in a password manager.
What Makes a Password Strong?
| Factor | Weak | Strong |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 8 characters | 16+ characters |
| Character types | Only lowercase letters | Uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols |
| Predictability | dictionary word + 123 | Random sequence (no patterns) |
| Uniqueness | Reused across sites | Unique per account |
| Personal info | Name, birthday, pet | No personal information |
The Best Approach: Use a Password Manager
Generate a 20-character random password with our Password Generator, then store it in a password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password, Dashlane). You only need to remember one strong master password. The manager fills in the rest automatically.
Strong Password Examples
These are strong because they are random and long:
Kf7#mP2nQx9@zLvB- 16 chars, all character typescorrect-horse-battery-staple-71- passphrase style, 30+ chars9xJm!Rq2KpN4wVt8- fully random, 16 chars
Check if a password is strong with our Password Strength Checker.
People Also Ask
- What are 5 things that make a strong password?
- Length (16+ characters), randomness (no patterns or words), character variety (upper, lower, numbers, symbols), uniqueness (never reused), and no personal information.
- What is a strong 8 character password example?
- 8 characters is too short by modern standards. Attackers can crack an 8-character password in hours with modern hardware. Use 16+ characters instead.
Related: Password security | Password entropy | Password Generator