In 2026, the average person has 100+ online accounts. Reusing passwords across them is the #1 reason accounts get hacked. Here's everything you need to know about password security.
What Makes a Password "Strong"?
A strong password has three qualities:
- Length — At least 16 characters (longer is better)
- Randomness — No dictionary words, names, or patterns
- Uniqueness — Different for every account
How Long to Crack Different Passwords
| Password Type | Example | Time to Crack |
|---|---|---|
| 6 chars, lowercase | monkey | Instant |
| 8 chars, mixed | P@ssw0rd | 8 hours |
| 12 chars, mixed | Tr0ub4dor&3 | 34 years |
| 16 chars, random | kX!9mP#2vL@8nQ$4 | Billions of years |
| 20 chars, random | Generated by VedaWell | Heat death of universe |
Use a Password Generator
The safest passwords are ones you never even know. Use a cryptographically secure password generator that creates truly random passwords.
VedaWell's Password Generator runs entirely in your browser — your passwords are never sent to any server. Generate passwords with custom length, symbols, numbers, and get entropy scoring to verify strength.
Best Practices for 2026
- Use a password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password, or KeePass)
- Enable 2FA/MFA on every account that supports it
- Use passkeys where available (Google, Apple, Microsoft)
- Never reuse passwords — generate unique ones for each site
- Check Have I Been Pwned for breached accounts