Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about password security and our strength checker.
Privacy and Usage
Is my password sent to a server?
Absolutely not. The Password Strength Checker runs completely locally in your web browser using client-side JavaScript. Your password data is never transmitted over the internet, logged on a server, or stored in any database. You can even disconnect your internet before typing your password to verify this.
Can this tool guarantee my account won't be hacked?
No tool can guarantee 100% security. This checker provides a mathematical estimate of how difficult a password is to guess via brute-force or basic dictionary attacks. It cannot know if you reused the password on a site that gets breached, or if your computer is infected with a keylogger.
Password Security Concepts
What makes a password strong?
A strong password is long (12+ characters), unpredictable, and unique to the specific account. It should avoid dictionary words, personal information, and obvious keyboard patterns. A mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols increases the mathematical difficulty of guessing it.
Is a longer password always stronger?
Generally, yes. A 16-character password made entirely of lowercase letters is usually harder for a computer to crack than an 8-character password containing a complex mix of symbols. Length provides exponential increases in security.
What is password entropy?
Entropy is a concept from information theory used to measure unpredictability. In the context of passwords, it's calculated based on the length of the password and the size of the character pool (the number of possible characters that could have been chosen). It is measured in "bits"—the higher the bits, the stronger the password.
Should I use a password manager?
Yes. Cybersecurity professionals universally recommend using a reputable password manager. It allows you to generate and store incredibly long, random, and unique passwords for every single account, meaning you only ever have to remember one strong "Master Password."
Is a passphrase better than a complex password?
A passphrase (e.g., "correct horse battery staple") is a series of random words. They are excellent because they are very long (providing high entropy) but remain easy for a human to type and remember. They are highly recommended for Master Passwords or device logins.