

If you want to check if a password you're considering using has already been exposed in a hack, go to Have I Been Pwned and enter the password. Hackers can effortlessly use previously stolen or otherwise exposed passwords in automated login attempts called credential stuffing to break into an account. For example, PasswordOne, PasswordTwo (these are both bad for multiple reasons).īy picking a unique password for each account, hackers that crack into one account can't use it to get access to all the rest. The same goes for modifying a root password that changes with the addition of a prefix or suffix. If someone uncovers your reused password for one account, they have the key to every other account you use that password for. It's worth repeating that reusing passwords across different accounts is a terrible idea. Here's What Experts Say Really Helps Don't recycle your passwords, seriously Read more: Strong Passwords Aren't as Easy as Adding 123.


A longer passphrase composed of unconnected words can be difficult to remember, however, which is why you should consider using a password manager. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and security expert Brian Krebs, among many others, advise using a passphrase made up of three or four random words for added security. Longer passwords are better: 8 characters is a starting pointĨ characters are a great place to start when creating a strong password, but longer logins are better.
