Cyber security is becoming more crucial as identity theft cases rise. A strong password is one of the best ways to protect your data. But would a passphrase be better? Although they may sound the same, many differences can improve or decrease security.
Today in this article, we will discuss about Passphrase vs Passwords and Which is Better for Security?
Passphrase vs Passwords:
Before we get into detail, let’s take a look at what each one is and why they differ on a fundamental level.
What is a password?
A password is a combination of characters that allows you to access a system.
Passwords are used to encrypt or secure data and private, proprietary and personal information. Different websites and programs have different requirements regarding password lengths. They also require that you include both numbers and letters. You can use upper and lowercase letters and special symbols.
You can make a password look something like this: abcdxyz@1234
What is a Passphrase?
Passphrases can be thought of as a more secure version of a password. Passphrases can be used similarly and for the same reasons as passwords. Passphrases are typically longer and include spaces. A passphrase may also contain symbols. However, it doesn’t have to be grammatically correct.
It is best to have the words of the Passphrase be random. Passphrase meanings should not be challenging to figure out or have a familiar or usual pattern. A more strong passphrase can be made by using a random phrase. Passphrases can include “flew cats, bo0k though there!” etc. You can also read What is cybersecurity?
What is the difference between a Password & a Passphrase?
Passphrases can be used to create passwords. However, not all passwords can be considered passphrases.
Passphrases are easier to remember than passwords if you follow security guidelines. Passphrases are less likely to be written down by users, which can lead to a vulnerability.
While both are secure in terms of security, a passphrase is usually securer.
How to Create a Strong Password?
Many people still use weak passwords like “Password” or “123456.” These are the most common passwords.
This makes a hacker’s life very simple. The first step in creating strong passwords is to avoid picking something easy or familiar.
So what is a common password, then? Any term that is easy to guess. That probably didn’t help. So, let me give you some examples of common passwords.
- Tiger
- Monkey
- Scoter
- Toaster
- Your Date of Birth
- Your Address
The first four examples above are very common words. These words are not unique; they are common words that anyone can guess. These are the terms that bots most often use to start their programs.
While the first two may seem good choices, the second and third might not be. Although your birthdate and address are not commonly used, are they safe? Is your birthday visible on your Facebook profile? Do you know where your home is?
You can probably guess these password choices are not good after considering them for two seconds.
Also, read – Working from Home Security Tips for Staff and Employers
How can I choose a strong password for my website? You need to make sure that it contains the following:
- Includes both lower and upper letters
- Include both symbols and numbers
- Does not contain a commonly used word
- Your email does not match the above
- This does not collect personal information
- It must be at least 12 characters long
- It is not currently being used on any other website
Follow the rules above to get a strong password. Here’s a list of some strong password suggestions:
- aIFUfs#_dTn4!
- qOdr%hF6dEp$
- Lu1bw*QFgb2&
These are not recommended. They are a random string of characters that nobody could randomly guess.
Google Chrome and other browsers will now provide random passwords whenever they detect you’re creating accounts.
How to Create A Strong Passphrase?
Remember when I said that all passphrases are passwords? Everything I mentioned above applies to this case.
Let’s discuss common words once more. You might think that because you’re choosing multiple words to form a phrase, common words are no longer acceptable. In reality, it’s just four random words.
Wrong…….
The familiar words are ones you must stay clear of. They should be random and not be used in the context of a sentence.
One of the unique aspects of passing phrases is the need to avoid using famous quotes or words. For example, “We Have A Chunk” is the wrong choice for several reasons.
- This is an iconic quote from the movie Avengers
- Each word is at least four characters.
- All the words are commonly used.
Now we know what to avoid. What can we put into our passphrases? The same rules apply to passwords are in place and include:
- Use lower and upper characters.
- Use symbols and numbers
- Make sure to use at the very least four words (the total should be at least 12 characters)
Hold on, what would the use of symbols and numbers be in the form of a phrase? What’s the purpose of using words? Yes, but you also can be creative.
For example, “Glasses Series Mower Pole” could mean “g! @sSeS m0wER SeRies p0!e”, and that’s a significant difference. Pay attention to the way I substituted”o,” the initial letter, with “o” with the number “0.” Or the letter “a” with the symbol “@.”
It’s straightforward to remember. However, it can make your password more secure. Everyone is different, so the process of creating an established set of rules that are easy to remember when replacing the letters with numbers or symbols could be different based on your personal preferences.
Conclusion
Since passphrases are longer than passwords and both are to provide more outstanding security. However, you can enhance their security by adding random phrases and substituting letters with specific figures or characters.
Passphrases are also simple to remember using the mnemonic device, while an unpredictable sequence of characters could be difficult to remember.
However, remembering a different password for every service can be a problem because of their length. In most cases, the traditional strong and secure passwords are sufficient and secure.
We hope you have found the answers to your questions about Passphrase vs Passwords and Which is Better for Security? You may also want to check out our Best WordPress Security Plugin to Protect Your Site.
