How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Trust

Weak passwords are behind most account hacks. Learn what makes a password strong, common mistakes to avoid, and how to generate secure random passwords for free.

Most account breaches do not involve clever hacking; they involve weak, reused or guessable passwords. The fix is simple: use long, random, unique passwords for every account.

What makes a password strong

• Length is the single biggest factor; aim for at least 12-16 characters.
• A mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols.
• Randomness: no names, dictionary words, birthdays or keyboard patterns.
• Uniqueness: a different password for every site.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not reuse the same password across sites, do not just add 123 or an exclamation mark to a common word, and never store passwords in plain text. If one site is breached and you reused that password, attackers will try it everywhere.

Generate a strong password instantly

The free Password Generator creates strong, random passwords with the length and character types you choose. Because it runs in your browser, the password is generated on your device.

Managing your passwords

Strong passwords are hard to remember on purpose; that is what a password manager is for. Generate a unique password per account, store it in a reputable manager, and turn on two-factor authentication wherever possible.