For years, we were taught that a good password should contain uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. However, these complex combinations are often difficult to remember… and surprisingly easy for hackers to guess. That’s where passphrases come in. Longer, easier to remember, and much more secure, passphrases are now one of the most effective ways to protect your accounts. Here’s why passphrases are better than passwords.
What is a passphrase?
A passphrase is a string of words that form a sentence. It can be logical, absurd, funny, or even poetic. The idea is to focus on length and natural memorization rather than visual complexity.
For example, a passphrase such as Bunny Sun Orange Sofa or MyUncle Eats Chips On The Moon will be much easier to remember than a password such as J#7P!xzQ. And yet it offers much better protection.
Why is it more secure?
The longer a password is, the more resistant it is to attacks. Contrary to popular belief, length is often more valuable than complexity. Passphrases can easily reach 30 to 50 characters, making them extremely difficult to crack.
According to Hive Systems, an 8-character password can be hacked in less than a minute, even if it contains symbols, numbers, and capital letters. Conversely, a well-constructed 18-character passphrase can take billions of years to crack using a brute force attack. These figures are theoretical, of course, but they are based on the actual capabilities of tools available today, such as the powerful graphics cards used in automated attacks.
Is it easier to use?
Yes, definitely. A passphrase is much more pleasant to use on a daily basis. It can be inspired by a personal memory, a habit, or an idea. The more original, the better.
Let’s take some concrete examples: I Lost My Mittens in Quebec in 2009 or Lucie Loves Apple Pies. These phrases are long and contain many characters, but they are very easy to remember. And you won’t need to write them down on a sticky note stuck to your screen anymore.
How do you create a good passphrase?
Creating a strong passphrase is simple. Just combine a few unrelated words and, if necessary, add a number or symbol to meet the criteria of certain websites. The important thing is that the phrase makes sense to you, but not to a hacker.
For example: Zebra2025ReadsABookInTheBathtub or TheDog2Runs#InThePark. However, avoid famous quotes or well-known phrases, which may be part of databases used by attackers.
What about in business?
Passphrases are also very effective in the workplace. They reduce password forgetfulness, simplify access management, and make cybersecurity more accessible to all employees. This reduces pressure on IT support and encourages best practices within teams.
By replacing traditional passwords with passphrases, companies can strengthen their security without adding to their procedures.
What about artificial intelligence?
AI tools are now capable of detecting patterns and guessing overly simple passwords. But a well-constructed passphrase with unique associations remains very difficult to predict, even for a machine. And if it’s completely absurd, like MyCousinJumpsOnATrampolineWithABroccoli, you’re even better protected.
Take action
Take five minutes today to replace an important password with a passphrase. It’s a small step, but a big step towards better cybersecurity.
And if you’re looking to secure your IT environment with tailored solutions, come and discover what we offer at montechnicien.com. We’re here to support you, simply and effectively.
Thought for the day: Better a strange phrase than a password you’ve forgotten three times.
in your taskbar.