Password Strength Test

Analyze how strong your password is based on complexity and patterns.

Test Your Password

Your password is never stored or transmitted to our servers.

What makes a strong password? A strong password is typically at least 12 characters long and includes a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using personal information, dictionary words, or common patterns. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords.

Password Security Guide

What Makes a Password Strong?

Password strength refers to how effectively a password can resist being compromised by various attack methods like brute force, dictionary attacks, or social engineering. A strong password is your first line of defense against unauthorized access to your accounts.

The key factors that determine password strength include:

Length: Longer passwords are exponentially more difficult to crack. Modern security standards recommend a minimum of 12-14 characters.
Complexity: Using a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters increases the possible combinations an attacker would need to try.
Unpredictability: Avoiding common words, patterns, or personal information that could be easily guessed or discovered through social engineering.
Uniqueness: Using different passwords for different accounts prevents a security breach in one service from affecting your other accounts.

How Password Strength is Measured

Password strength is evaluated using mathematical concepts of information entropy and the practical resistance to various attack methods:

Entropy Calculation: A measure of randomness or uncertainty in the password. Higher entropy means greater security.
Character Set Analysis: Evaluating the variety of character types used (lowercase, uppercase, numbers, symbols).
Pattern Detection: Identifying and penalizing common patterns like keyboard sequences (qwerty), numerical sequences (12345), or common substitutions (p@ssw0rd).
Dictionary Word Check: Flagging passwords that contain complete words found in dictionaries.
Contextual Information Check: Advanced systems may check if the password contains information that could be personal to the user (names, dates, etc.)
Breach Database Comparison: Some tools check if a password has appeared in previous data breaches.

Creating Strong Passwords

Follow these best practices to create strong, secure passwords:

Use Passphrases: Consider using a string of random words with spaces or symbols between them, which can be easier to remember but still very secure (e.g., "correct-horse-battery-staple").
Avoid Personal Information: Don't use names, birthdays, or information that could be found on social media.
Don't Reuse Passwords: Each account should have a unique password to prevent credential stuffing attacks.
Use a Password Manager: These tools can generate and store complex, unique passwords for each of your accounts.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Add an extra layer of security beyond just the password.
Regular Updates: Change passwords periodically, especially for critical accounts.

Common Password Vulnerabilities

Dictionary Attacks

Attackers use lists of common words and variations to guess passwords systematically.

Brute Force Attacks

Automated systems try every possible character combination until they find the correct password.

Credential Stuffing

Attackers use leaked username/password combinations from one service to try accessing other services.

Social Engineering

Manipulating users into revealing passwords through phishing or pretexting techniques.

Keyloggers

Malware that records keystrokes to capture passwords as they're typed.

Rainbow Tables

Pre-computed tables used to crack password hashes more quickly than brute force methods.

Password Managers: Benefits and Considerations

Benefits:

Generate complex, random passwords that are highly secure
Store and auto-fill passwords, eliminating the need to memorize them
Use one master password to access all your other passwords
Many offer secure sharing features for family or team accounts
Most provide breach monitoring and password health reports

Considerations:

Your master password becomes a single point of failure (make it very strong)
Some password managers have been targets for hackers
Free vs. paid options offer different levels of features and security
Consider whether you need cloud syncing or prefer local-only storage
Review the encryption methods used by the password manager

Beyond Passwords: Modern Authentication Methods

While strong passwords are important, modern security often incorporates additional layers:

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Combines something you know (password) with something you have (mobile device) or something you are (biometric).
Biometric Authentication: Using fingerprints, facial recognition, or voice patterns for authentication.
Hardware Security Keys: Physical devices like YubiKeys that provide cryptographic authentication.
Single Sign-On (SSO): Using one secure authentication method to access multiple services.
Passwordless Authentication: Methods that eliminate passwords entirely in favor of other verification mechanisms.