What Makes a Password Strong in 2025? (Hint: It's Not What You Think)

The Old Rules Are Officially Dead

Remember being forced to use an uppercase letter, a number, and a symbol? In 2025, that thinking is obsolete. Those rules led to predictable passwords like Password!1, which modern computers can crack in seconds. Today, security experts agree on two core principles: length and unpredictability.

Why Length Is the New Complexity

Every character you add to a password increases the time it takes to crack it exponentially. Think of it this way:

• 8-character complex password: Cracked in minutes.
• 16-character complex password: Could take thousands of years.

The single most effective thing you can do to strengthen a password is make it longer.

What is Password Entropy?

Entropy measures a password's randomness. A password created by a secure generator (like Passlock) has high entropy because it's truly unpredictable. Human-made 'random' passwords often follow subconscious patterns, making them weaker.

The Rise of Passkeys

The biggest shift by 2025 is the widespread adoption of passkeys. A passkey uses your device (phone, computer) and its biometric security (face/fingerprint scan) to log you in. It's phishing-resistant and removes the need to remember a password at all for supported sites. While not everywhere yet, they are the future.

Your 2025 Action Plan:

1. Prioritize Length: Aim for 16+ characters for any new password.
2. Use a Password Manager: It's the only way to have a unique, long, random password for every site.
3. Enable Passkeys: Wherever available, switch from passwords to passkeys.