Strong Passwords: Practical Best Practices for 2026

Passwords remain a primary defense against account compromise. The right strategy significantly reduces risk while keeping usability high.

Core Principles

• Length over complexity: aim for 14+ characters
• Uniqueness per site
• Avoid dictionary words and personal info

Generation

Use a trusted generator to create random passwords with mixed character sets.

Try the Strong Password Generator.

Storage

• Use password managers
• Enable 2FA
• Rotate credentials for sensitive systems

FAQ

Is periodic rotation necessary?

For general accounts, not strictly. For high-privilege accounts, periodic rotation is recommended.

What about passphrases?

Passphrases can be both long and memorable. Ensure uniqueness and avoid common quotes.