Why Check Your Password Strength?
In today's digital landscape, the security of your online accounts depends significantly on the strength of your passwords. Weak passwords can be cracked in seconds, while strong ones might take millennia with current technology. Understanding the true strength of your passwords is the first step toward better security practices.
Our Password Strength Checker helps you:
- Evaluate the security level of your existing passwords
- Identify specific vulnerabilities and weaknesses
- Understand the mathematical principles behind password security
- Learn practical strategies for creating stronger passwords
- Visualize how quickly different types of attackers could crack your password
Password Strength Analyzer
Enter a password below to analyze its strength. The analysis will show comprehensive metrics including entropy, estimated crack times, and specific vulnerabilities.
Understanding Password Strength Metrics
To truly understand password security, it's important to familiarize yourself with the key metrics used to evaluate strength:
Entropy
Entropy is a measure of unpredictability or randomness in your password, typically measured in bits. It's calculated based on the character set used and the password length. Higher entropy means greater security.
How to Interpret Entropy Values
- Less than 40 bits: Very weak - easily crackable
- 40-60 bits: Weak - vulnerable to offline attacks
- 60-80 bits: Moderate - offers reasonable protection
- 80-100 bits: Strong - very difficult to crack
- Above 100 bits: Very strong - practically uncrackable with current technology
Character Set Complexity
This metric evaluates the variety of characters used in your password. Using multiple character types (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols) significantly increases security.
Pattern Analysis
Beyond simple metrics, modern password security also evaluates for common patterns that reduce effective entropy, such as:
- Dictionary words or common names
- Keyboard patterns (qwerty, 12345, asdfgh)
- Simple substitutions (a → @, e → 3, i → 1)
- Common formats (word + year, name + number)
Crack Time Estimation
This represents the estimated time it would take an attacker to guess your password using different attack methods. It's based on the password's entropy and assumptions about computing power.
Common Weak Password Patterns to Avoid
Many people follow predictable patterns when creating passwords, making them vulnerable despite appearing complex. Here are patterns to avoid:
Personal Information
- Your name or username
- Birth dates or anniversary dates
- Pet names or family member names
- Addresses or phone numbers
- Favorite teams, brands, or celebrities
Common Sequences
- Sequential numbers (12345, 98765)
- Keyboard patterns (qwerty, asdfgh)
- Repeating characters (aaa, 111, ababab)
- Letter sequences (abcde, wxyz)
- Common increments (abc123, abc1234)
Dictionary Words
- Single dictionary words
- Common phrases or quotes
- Song lyrics or movie titles
- Sports teams or mascots
- Simple word + number combinations
Predictable Substitutions
- Replacing 'a' with '@'
- Replacing 'e' with '3'
- Replacing 'i' with '1' or '!'
- Replacing 'o' with '0'
- Replacing 's' with '$' or '5'
Strategies for Improving Password Strength
Based on the latest security research, here are effective strategies for creating stronger passwords:
Length Over Complexity
Longer passwords are generally more secure than shorter, complex ones. Aim for at least 16 characters when possible. A 20-character password using only lowercase letters is stronger than a 10-character password with mixed character types.
Random Passphrases
Consider using a series of random words separated by special characters or numbers. For example: "correct-horse-battery-staple-42!" is both strong and relatively memorable. Use 4-6 truly random words for best security.
True Randomness
The most secure passwords are truly random. Use our password generator to create cryptographically secure random passwords. For maximum security, generate passwords with a mix of character types and at least 16 characters.
Password Managers
The best approach is to use different, random passwords for each account and store them in a password manager. This allows you to create extremely strong passwords without having to memorize them. See our password manager comparison for recommendations.
Privacy & Security Information
We take the security of your information extremely seriously, especially when it comes to password analysis. Here's how our password strength checker protects your privacy:
Local Processing Only
All analysis of your password happens entirely within your browser, using JavaScript. Your password is never sent to our servers or any third-party services. The code runs locally on your device, ensuring your password remains private.
No Storage or Logging
We do not store, log, or record any passwords or analysis results. Once you navigate away from this page or refresh it, all password data is completely cleared from memory.
Open Analysis Algorithm
Our password strength checking algorithm evaluates multiple factors including:
- Password length and complexity
- Character variety (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols)
- Common patterns and sequences
- Dictionary word detection
- Entropy calculation
Note: While our password strength checker is secure, we still recommend against entering your actual, currently-used passwords for critical accounts. Instead, consider analyzing passwords similar to ones you use or passwords you're planning to use in the future.
For maximum security, after analyzing your passwords, clear your browser history or use private/incognito mode.