Random passphrase vs traditional password
If you’ve ever struggled to come up with a secure password or remember a mix of random letters, numbers, and symbols, you’re not alone. For years, we’ve been taught that passwords like P@ssw0rd123! are secure. But the truth is, while these passwords are hard for humans to remember, they’re not as hard for computers to guess as you might think.
This problem is brilliantly illustrated in the popular XKCD comic #936. The comic points out how computers can quickly guess short, complicated passwords by trying every possible combination. For example, a password like Tr0ub4dor&3 might look secure, but it can be cracked fairly quickly by modern algorithms. Worse, because it’s so hard to memorize, we might end up writing it down or reusing it, which further weakens its security.
The comic suggests a better way: use passphrases made of random, common words. A passphrase like correct horse battery staple is much harder for a computer to guess because it’s longer. Even though the words are simple, the total number of possible combinations increases dramatically as you add more words, making it much more secure. And the best part? It’s easier to remember because the words are familiar.
This is where random passphrases or “word passwords” come in. Our generator helps you create secure, memorable passphrases by randomly selecting words from carefully curated wordlists. It also supports multiple languages, including English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Spanish, and Swedish, so you can generate passphrases in the language you’re most comfortable with.
Great, I’ll use a passphrase! What else can I do to improve my security?
Creating a secure passphrase is a fantastic step, but there are additional measures you can take to enhance your online safety. Below are simple tips for better password management.
1. Use a password manager
Password managers can securely store and organize your passwords. Many browsers like Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge come with built-in password managers. However, if you want seamless access to your passwords across multiple devices, consider using one of these dedicated tools:
- 1Password (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)
- LastPass (iOS, Android, and browser extensions for Windows, Mac, Linux)
- KeePass (Open-source and available for Linux, Windows, Mac, and Android)
A password manager lets you maintain strong, unique passphrases for all your accounts without needing to memorize them all.
Read more about password managers2. Choose a strong master password
Your password manager will protect all your stored passwords with a single “master” password, so make it count! This is the perfect time to use a memorable but strong passphrase.
3. Use unique passphrases for every account
Reusing passwords is a common mistake. A breach on one site could compromise your other accounts. That’s why it’s critical to use a different passphrase for every website or service. Here’s an example of what strong, random passphrases might look like:
- sunrise velvet crater unfold
- island victory attic design
- laptop secret rocket statue
Passphrases like these are much harder for attackers to guess, even with advanced tools.
Should you trust a website to generate your passphrase?
The short answer: It depends on your comfort level. Our passphrase generator prioritizes your privacy. All passphrases are generated locally in your browser and are never saved or sent over the internet. This ensures that only you have access to the generated passphrase.
If you’d prefer to create your own passphrase, here’s a simple method: choose one of your favorite books and pick a sentence or phrase from it. It should be something meaningful and easy for you to remember, but not something too obvious like the first sentence of the book. For example, you might select a line from a random page or one that resonates with you personally. This approach combines memorability with uniqueness, making it a solid alternative for generating secure passphrases.
For those who prefer a dedicated tool within their browser, we have also developed a simple browser extension for both Chrome and Firefox that offers the same passphrase generation functionality. You can install it from the official Chrome or Firefox Add-ons store:
