Passwords and passphrases are essential in the digital age. With so much of our lives online, we must ensure that our accounts and personal information remain secure. But what is the difference between a password and a passphrase, and which is better? Let’s take a closer look.
What is a Password?
A password is a string of characters, such as letters, numbers, and symbols, used to authenticate a user's identity. When you create an account on a website, you are usually asked to choose a password. You enter this password when you log in to the website to prove that you are who you say you are.
Passwords have been around for a long time and are still widely used today. However, as hackers become more sophisticated, using strong passwords to protect your online accounts is becoming increasingly important.
What is a Passphrase?
A passphrase is similar to a password, but instead of a random string of characters, it is a series of words. For example, "correct-horse-battery-staple".
The hyphens are important, as they increase the number and type of characters, thus the passphrase's overall security. You can use any symbol to separate the words and increase security.
Passphrases are becoming more popular as people realize that they are easier to remember than passwords while still being secure. Due to their length, they resist brute-force attacks, where an attacker tries to guess your password by systematically trying every possible combination of characters.
Passphrase vs. Password: Which is Better?
So, which is better: a passphrase or a password? The answer is that it depends on the situation.
Passwords are still suitable for some situations, such as when it’s not important to remember the password, or when a system significantly limits the number of characters you can use.
Passphrases rely on having a lot of characters (typically 20+) to be secure. If you’re dealing with an outdated system that limits you to 16 characters, you’ll be better off with a randomly generated password that includes a healthy mix of numbers and symbols.
For many situations, passphrases are a better choice. They are easier to remember, while still being very secure.
How to Create a Strong Passphrase
For most people, the weakest link in their security is their password. There are a few strategies to write good passphrases that I recommend.
Start by choosing a few of your favorite things. For example, I will start with my favorite band, Guided by Voices. I will also use one of my favorite songs from them, like “Echos Myron.” Take some words from each source, and mix them up with some significant numbers for you.
VoicesJMY6ASMyron7988Liberty
This password is constructed of the third word from the name of the band, a license plate number for a car, the second word from the song title, part of a phone number, and a standout term from the song. Since you built this phrase yourself, you should be able to remember it quickly, and you now have a 28-character password!
Passphrases improve your password security by helping you remember a long string of characters that don't make sense to anyone else. If you build all of your passphrases like this, your passwords will be nearly impossible for another human to guess.
You can take it further by substituting letters or numbers for symbols. For example, in the password above, you can replace all the ‘i’ characters with the ‘!’ symbol. This will break most of the dictionary words in your password, making it even more impenetrable and easy to remember!
Here are some tips:
1.Use a Random Combination of Words
The key to a strong passphrase is randomness. Don't use a common phrase or saying that someone else might guess. Instead, use a combination of random words that have no connection to each other or only have meaning to you.
2. Use a Long Phrase
The longer your passphrase, the more secure it will be. Aim for at least 20 characters or more.
3. Include Numbers, Symbols, and Capital Letters
While a passphrase comprises words, you can still include numbers, symbols, and capital letters to make it even more secure. For example, you could replace letters with numbers, such as "l3monad3", or include symbols, such as "!n3w_y0rk_C1ty".
4. Don't Reuse Passphrases
Just like passwords, you should never reuse a passphrase across multiple accounts. If one of your accounts is compromised, an attacker could use the same passphrase to access your other accounts.
In summary, passwords and passphrases each have their own use cases. Passwords are still suitable for some situations, but passphrases are a better choice if you need to remember your login details. When creating a passphrase, aim for randomness, length, and complexity, and never reuse the same passphrase across multiple accounts. By following these tips, you can help keep your online accounts secure.
Most people have well over one hundred online accounts. You’ll never remember 100 unique passphrases, so get a password manager. Try us out for free today!
