Make Passwords That Are Strong and Easy to Remember
Why longer passphrases beat short, complicated passwords, and a simple method for creating your own.
By the GNOUP team · · 2 min read
Short passwords with a few symbols are hard to remember and often not that hard to guess. A passphrase, several random words strung together, is usually both longer and easier to remember.
Length matters most
Every extra character multiplies the number of possible combinations. A phrase of four or five unrelated words is typically far longer than a "complex" eight-character password.
A simple passphrase recipe
- Pick four to six random, unrelated words. For example: lantern, pickle, orbit, velvet. Avoid song lyrics, quotes or anything about you.
- Join them with a separator you like:
lantern-pickle-orbit-velvet. - Optionally add a twist, like a number or a capital letter in an unexpected spot.
Never reuse the example above. Make your own!
Good habits that go with it
- Use a different password for every important account. If one site leaks, the others stay safe.
- Consider a password manager to store them, so you only need to remember one strong passphrase.
- Turn on two-step verification wherever it's offered.
Check your idea
Curious how a password idea stacks up? Our Password Strength Checker runs entirely in your browser. What you type is never sent anywhere. Even so, it's best to test a similar pattern rather than your real password.