Passphrase

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What is a Passphrase?

A passphrase is a string of words a user can enter to authenticate themselves and gain access to a system, service, or file. In general, a passphrase should be up to 40 characters in length, with a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

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Some providers offer passphrases as a security mechanism because they are more challenging for hackers to crack than traditional passwords. This is mainly because they have more characters, making them harder to guess or brute force attack.

Passphrase

Key Takeaways

  • Passphrases are a string of words a user can use to authenticate account access.
  • In general, passphrases are more difficult to crack than traditional passwords.
  • A good passphrase should have a mix of 15-20 characters.
  • Selecting a weak passphrase can put your account at risk of compromise.
  • Other security measures like multi-factor authentication are still recommended.

How Passphrase Works

When signing up for an online account or changing their account settings, the user changes their password to a passphrase made up of multiple words (typically four or more words).

Users can select a passphrase by creating one manually or using a random word or passphrase generator to assist the process. The aim is to create a passphrase that’s complicated enough that it’s not easy to crack but is memorable enough for the user not to forget it.

Once the passphrase is configured, the user can use it to log into their account, just like a password. They can also be stored in a password manager.

Passphrases can also be used to restrict access to certain services. For example, it can be used as an alternative to a WPA password (replaced with a WPA passphrase) in your router settings, or you could use a Secure Shell (SSH) passphrase to control access to an encrypted SSH tunnel and to protect a private key from use by unauthorized individuals.

It is important to note that passphrases can still be compromised via brute force or harvested via social engineering scams, phishing, or malware infections.

What is a Strong Passphrase?

A strong passphrase should generally contain 15-20 characters, with a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, symbols, and spaces.

The phrase shouldn’t be based on a popular expression but a sequence of random words that are not logically connected so that they can’t be guessed or hacked by a threat actor.

As a best practice, you’ll also want to avoid reusing passphrases across multiple accounts. The reason for this is that if your passphrase is stolen, someone could use it to gain access to all of the accounts that share the phrase.

We recommend selecting a strong passphrase and using other security measures such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) or even passwordless authentication options like passkeys, where possible, to add extra layers of security to your account.

How to Use a Passphrase

You can use a passphrase in the same way that you would a traditional password. That being said, some sites don’t support using passphrases due to restrictions on character lengths. If the site has a character length restriction, you can enter it in a password text box.

To select your passphrase, you’ll want to choose a random sequence of words you can easily remember and then add some embellishments, like capitalizing the letters or replacing them with symbols to make the string harder to crack.

For instance, if you chose Applesfloorsignshows as your random sequence of words, you could change the format to the following to make it more secure: App1esfl00rsignsh0ws

Ideally, you want to select a passphrase that’s as complex as possible while still being easy enough for you to remember and input when you log into your accounts.

Types of Passphrases

Types of Passphrases

There are several different types of passphrases you can use to protect accounts and services.

These include:

Keyboard pattern passphrases
Passphrases made up of words from a keyboard pattern such as QWERTY or ASDF.
Random passphrases
Passphrases composed of random words rather than a particular phrase.
Image-based passphrases
Passphrases made up of words taken from an image.
Known phrase passphrases
Passphrases that relate to a known expression.

Passphrase vs. Password

Passphrase  Password 
Definition  A string of multiple words with spaces, letters, numbers, and symbols A combination of characters, letters, numbers, and symbols
Character length  Minimum of 8 characters Minimum of 8 characters
Advantages  Easier to remember and harder to hack Widely used and can be managed via a password manager
Limitations  Not all providers support passphrases Strong passwords are difficult to remember and vulnerable to cyber threats
Security Concerns  Credential stuffing and phishing are still a possibility (but less likely than with passwords) Vulnerable to phishing, social engineering, malware, and credential stuffing. Also frequently leaked on the dark web

Passphrases Examples

Just like with a password, you can use a variety of combinations to safeguard access to your online accounts.

Some typical passphrase examples you could use include:

  • App1esfl00rsignsh0ws
  • GameCarrotFootballMoon
  • 1LobsterFiveSunl1ghtDrive
  • AirportCheeseburgerMorning Dinner
  • JumperWaterTopLunar

Feel free to play around with random words and formatting until you find a phrase that’s easy to remember but difficult to guess.

8 Tips for a Strong Passphrase

8 Tips for a Strong Passphrase

There are many different ways you can select a strong passphrase:

Choose a longer passphrase
Selecting a longer passphrase will make it harder for hackers to guess the correct combination of words.
Mix uppercase and lowercase letters
Choose a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters in your passphrase to reduce the chance of brute force hacks.
Generate a random passphrase
Some providers may offer the option to generate a random passphrase, which can help avoid predictability.
Avoid common phrases
Avoid common phrases or expressions that someone could guess, and use a phrase only you know.
Make sure it's easy to remember
Choose a passphrase that’s easy to remember so you can log into your online accounts without wasting time resetting your passphrase or logging in via email.
Don't reuse passphrases
While it might be tempting to reuse your passphrase across multiple accounts, don’t, as this will increase your overall risk of compromise.
Don't use personal information
Avoid entering personal information into your passphrase as this can help threat actors to crack your account.
Remember to update your passphrase periodically
Updating your passphrase regularly will ensure no one has a long time to try and steal it.

Passphrase Pros and Cons

Below are the main pros and cons of using passphrases to protect accounts and services:

Pros
  • Harder to crack than passwords
  • Easy to remember
  • Improved user experience
Cons
  • Risk of choosing a common phrase
  • Most systems are designed for passwords
  • Some systems may force complicated passwords

The Bottom Line

Now you know the definition of a passphrase, you understand it’s one of the easiest ways to enhance the security of your account. While they’re not foolproof and can still be stolen or cracked, they are still harder to breach than passwords.

FAQs 

What is a passphrase in simple terms?

What is a WPA2 passphrase?

What is a passphrase example?

Is a passphrase the same as a password?

Is the passphrase the new password?

What is a passphrase number?

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Tim Keary
Technology Specialist
Tim Keary
Technology Specialist

Tim Keary is a freelance technology writer and reporter covering AI, cybersecurity, and enterprise technology. Before joining Techopedia full-time in 2023, his work appeared on VentureBeat, Forbes Advisor, and other notable technology platforms, where he covered the latest trends and innovations in technology.