The Old Rules Are Wrong
For years, we've been told to create passwords like P@$$w0rd!23 — short, complex, and impossible to remember. But modern security research has conclusively shown that password length matters far more than complexity.
The Math Behind It
A password's strength is measured in bits of entropy — essentially how many guesses it would take to crack it. Here's a comparison:
- 8 characters, complex (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols): ~52 bits of entropy
- 16 characters, lowercase only: ~75 bits of entropy
- 4 random words (passphrase): ~77 bits of entropy
The 16-character lowercase password is actually thousands of times harder to crack than the 8-character complex one — and much easier to remember. Use our Password Entropy Calculator to see the actual entropy of any password.
Why Passphrases Win
A passphrase like "correct horse battery staple" is:
- Easy to remember
- Easy to type
- Extremely difficult to brute-force
- Resistant to dictionary attacks when using random words
Best Practices for 2026
- Use a password manager — it generates and stores unique passwords for every site
- Make passwords at least 16 characters — length is your best defense
- Never reuse passwords — a breach on one site shouldn't compromise all your accounts
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) — even if your password is compromised, 2FA adds another layer
- Use our Password Generator to create strong, random passwords instantly — all generated locally in your browser
Check Your Password Strength
Use our free Password Entropy Calculator to see exactly how strong your current passwords are. You might be surprised — that "complex" 8-character password may not be as secure as you think.
You can also hash your passwords to safely compare them without revealing the plaintext.