Password security is a pain point for all of us, and can be a huge area of vulnerability for many companies. Our 5+ a day this month highlights why passphrases can be a much more secure choice than a password.

Passphrases are longer than passwords

The typical length of a passphrase is 20-30 characters, compared to 8 for a password. This increased length alone makes it far more difficult to crack.

Passphrases are easier to remember

Rather than a single word with a jumble of letters, symbols, and numbers, you can use a phrase that is memorable to you (but not too well known!).

Passwords are often easy to guess

Hackers have developed complex tools that are specifically designed to crack even the most complicated password requirements – and adding to that, the more complex you make your password, the more likely you are to write this down somewhere to help you remember it.

It’s easier to satisfy password requirements

Phrases normally make use of punctuation and capitalisation, making it easy to fit multiple character types into your password without making it hard to remember.

It can be fun!

There are passphrase generators that randomly pick 3 or 4 words for you to make a phrase, often resulting in a bizarre jumbling of words that will stick in your mind (Check out xkcd’s password strength comic for an example here).

Just remember – don’t use anything too well known such as a famous quote, lines from movies, or lyrics, as while they may be easier to remember, that also makes them easier to crack!