How to Create a Strong Password: The Complete Security Guide
Your password is the only thing standing between a hacker and your bank account. Your email. Your medical records. Your entire digital life.
And yet, millions of people are still using "123456."
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about creating strong passwords — not the recycled advice from 2015, but what actually works in 2026 based on the latest research and NIST recommendations.
What Actually Makes a Password Strong?
Here's the short version: length beats complexity. Every time.
A 20-character password made of lowercase letters is exponentially harder to crack than an 8-character password stuffed with symbols. The math doesn't lie:
| Password Type | Length | Time to Crack (Brute Force) |
|---|---|---|
| Lowercase only | 8 chars | ~2 hours |
| Mixed case + numbers | 8 chars | ~8 hours |
| Mixed + symbols | 8 chars | ~39 hours |
| Lowercase only | 16 chars | ~1.5 million years |
| Mixed + symbols | 16 chars | ~billions of years |
The difference between 8 and 16 characters isn't double the security — it's astronomical. Every additional character multiplies the possible combinations by the size of your character set.
The sweet spot? 16+ characters with a mix of character types. Or better yet, a passphrase (more on that below).
The NIST Password Guidelines You Should Actually Follow
The National Institute of Standards and Technology updated their password guidelines, and the recommendations might surprise you:
What NIST Says to Do:
- Use long passwords — minimum 8 characters, but 15+ is recommended
- Allow all printable characters including spaces and Unicode
- Check passwords against known breach lists before accepting them
- Use a password manager to handle unique passwords for every account
- Enable multi-factor authentication everywhere possible
What NIST Says to Stop Doing:
- ❌ Mandatory complexity rules (requiring uppercase + symbols + numbers)
- ❌ Periodic password rotation (changing passwords every 90 days)
- ❌ Security questions (mother's maiden name is on Facebook)
- ❌ SMS-based 2FA (SIM swapping makes this vulnerable)
The old-school approach of forcing "P@$$w0rd123!" actually hurts security because people create predictable patterns to satisfy the rules. A naturally long, unique password is far better.
7 Common Password Mistakes (You're Probably Making #3)
1. Reusing Passwords Across Sites
When one service gets breached — and they will — attackers try those credentials everywhere. One password, one site. No exceptions.
2. Using Personal Information
Your dog's name, birthday, street address, or favorite team? All publicly available or easily guessable. Hackers scrape social media specifically for this.
3. Making Predictable Substitutions
Changing "password" to "p@$$w0rd" doesn't fool anyone. Cracking tools have dictionaries of common substitutions. This is security theater.
4. Using Common Patterns
Starting with a capital letter and ending with "1!" is so common that crackers try it first. "Welcome1!" and "Summer2026!" are basically the same password as far as hackers are concerned.
5. Keeping Default Passwords
Router passwords, IoT devices, database credentials — default passwords are published online. Change them immediately.
6. Storing Passwords in Plain Text
That "passwords.txt" file on your desktop? That sticky note on your monitor? A password manager exists for a reason.
7. Ignoring Breach Notifications
When a service tells you there was a breach, change that password and any other account where you used it. Don't wait.
Password vs. Passphrase: Which Is Better?
A passphrase is a password made of multiple random words, like correct-horse-battery-staple (thanks, XKCD).
Here's why passphrases are often superior:
| Factor | Random Password | Passphrase |
|---|---|---|
| Example | kJ#9xR!2mP |
marble-sunset-keyboard-falcon |
| Length | 10 characters | 30 characters |
| Entropy | ~65 bits | ~77 bits |
| Memorability | Very hard | Much easier |
| Typing speed | Slow, error-prone | Faster, natural |
Passphrases win on both security and usability. The key is that the words must be truly random — not a song lyric, movie quote, or anything meaningful. Use a passphrase generator to pick them.
When to use a random password instead: When the service has a short character limit, when you're storing it in a password manager anyway, or when you need maximum entropy per character.
Why You Need a Password Manager (No, Really)
The average person has 100+ online accounts. You cannot remember 100 unique, strong passwords. It's not a willpower problem — it's a math problem.
A password manager solves this by:
- Generating truly random passwords for every account
- Storing them in an encrypted vault
- Auto-filling them so you never type them
- Syncing across all your devices
- Alerting you when a password has been compromised in a breach
You only need to remember one strong master password. Make it a long passphrase.
Recommended password managers:
- Bitwarden (open source, free tier available)
- 1Password (excellent UX, family plans)
- KeePassXC (fully offline, open source)
Two-Factor Authentication: Your Essential Second Layer
Even the strongest password can be compromised through phishing, keyloggers, or server-side breaches. Two-factor authentication (2FA) means that knowing your password alone isn't enough.
2FA Methods Ranked by Security:
- Hardware security keys (YubiKey, Titan) — strongest, phishing-resistant
- Authenticator apps (Authy, Google Authenticator) — strong, widely supported
- Push notifications (Microsoft Authenticator) — convenient, mostly secure
- SMS codes — better than nothing, but vulnerable to SIM swapping
- Email codes — weakest form (email might also be compromised)
Priority: Enable hardware keys or authenticator apps on your email, banking, and social media accounts first. These are the highest-value targets.
Quick-Start: Generate a Strong Password Right Now
Ready to replace that weak password? Here's your action plan:
- Go to our password generator and generate a 20+ character random password
- Or create a passphrase using our passphrase generator — 4-5 random words
- Store it in a password manager — don't rely on memory for random passwords
- Enable 2FA on the account — check 2fa.directory for instructions
- Check for breaches — search your email at haveibeenpwned.com
Repeat for every account. Start with email, banking, and social media — the accounts that would hurt most if compromised.
FAQ
How long should my password be?
At minimum 12 characters, but 16-20+ is ideal. Length is the single biggest factor in password strength. Every additional character exponentially increases the time needed to crack it.
Are password generators safe to use?
Yes — reputable password generators like ours create passwords using cryptographically secure random number generators. The password is generated in your browser and never stored or transmitted. It's far safer than anything a human would create.
How often should I change my passwords?
Only when there's a reason to — like a breach notification or suspected compromise. NIST no longer recommends routine password rotation, as it leads to weaker passwords. Focus on making each password strong and unique instead.
Can a strong password be hacked?
A truly random, 20+ character password is effectively uncrackable through brute force with current technology. However, passwords can still be compromised through phishing, malware, or server breaches — which is why 2FA is essential.
What's the difference between a password and a passphrase?
A password is typically a short string of mixed characters (like kR#9!xm2), while a passphrase uses multiple random words (like marble-sunset-keyboard-falcon). Passphrases are usually longer, easier to remember, and can be just as secure — or more so.