Password Strength Checker

TL;DR

This guide shows you how to check your password’s strength and improve it using online tools and simple techniques.

1. Understand Password Strength

A strong password is long, complex, and unique. Here’s what makes a good one:

• Length: At least 12 characters (longer is better!).
• Complexity: A mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols (!@#$%^&* etc.).
• Uniqueness: Don’t reuse passwords across different websites.

Weak passwords are easy to guess (e.g., ‘password123’, your birthday, pet’s name).

2. Use an Online Password Strength Checker

Several free tools can estimate your password’s strength. Here are a few options:

• Have I Been Pwned: https://haveibeenpwned.com/PasswordStrength – Checks if your password appears in known data breaches.
• Norton Password Checker: https://my.norton.com/password-checker – Provides a strength rating and suggestions.
• Kaspersky Password Checker: https://password.kaspersky.com/ – Similar to Norton, offers feedback on password security.

Important: Be cautious about entering your actual passwords into online checkers if you’re concerned about privacy. Some checkers may log data (though reputable ones usually don’t). Consider testing variations of a potential password instead.

3. Check Password Strength Locally (Advanced)

If you prefer not to use online tools, you can check strength using command-line utilities on your computer. This requires some technical knowledge.

Using pwscore (Linux/macOS – Requires installation)

1. Install pwscore: Open a terminal and run:

   sudo apt install pwscore # Debian/Ubuntu

   or

   brew install pwscore # macOS (using Homebrew)

2. Run the check: Type pwscore your_password and press Enter. The output will give you a score from 0-4, with higher scores indicating stronger passwords.

   pwscore MyStrongPassword123!

Using PowerShell (Windows)

PowerShell doesn’t have a built-in password strength checker. You can use online examples or scripts, but be very careful about the source of any script you run.

4. Improving Your Password

1. Increase Length: Add more characters to your password.
2. Add Complexity: Include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
3. Use Passphrases: A passphrase is a sentence or phrase that’s easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess (e.g., ‘I love eating pizza on Fridays!’).
4. Avoid Personal Information: Don’t use your name, birthday, address, pet’s name, etc.
5. Randomness is Key: The more random the password, the harder it is to crack.

5. Password Managers

Using a password manager is highly recommended. They generate and store strong, unique passwords for all your accounts.

• Popular Options: 1Password, LastPass, Bitwarden.
• Benefits: You only need to remember one master password. Password managers automatically fill in login details.

6. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Enable 2FA whenever possible. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a code from your phone or another device, even if someone knows your password.