How Strong Is Your Password? Password Security Explained

Weak passwords are behind the majority of hacked accounts. The good news: making a strong one is easy once you understand what "strong" means.

What makes a password strong?

• Length — aim for at least 12–16 characters. Length matters more than anything.
• Variety — mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols.
• Unpredictability — no names, birthdays or dictionary words.
• Uniqueness — never reuse a password across sites.

How weak passwords get cracked

Attackers use automated tools that try billions of guesses using common words and leaked passwords. A short or common password can fall in seconds; a long random one could take centuries.

Test and create secure passwords

Check any password with our Password Strength Checker (it runs entirely in your browser). Then create an unbreakable one with the Password Generator, or generate keys and tokens with the Random String Generator.