Your password is your first line of security for everything online. Any software, website, or app you use likely requires a login, so your password needs to be strong and unique.
Weak credentials or other vulnerabilities can be exploited by hackers. You can utilise professional penetration testing services to safely evaluate your defences.
If testing shows your credentials are weak, you should consider changing your passwords. So, how do you create a strong password? The great news is you don’t have to.
Password generators are the easiest way to create strong passwords that are impossible to guess and hard to crack.
This guide will cover everything you need to know about password generators, why they’re important, and which ones are the best to use.
What is a password generator?
A password generator is a tool that quickly generates strong passwords for your online accounts.
These passwords are completely random, generated from a variety of letters, numbers, and symbols, and are impossible to guess.
What are the benefits of password generators?
Password generators are the strongest and most secure way to create passwords. A strong password is one that is long, complex, and unique.
The random variation of characters makes it incredibly difficult, bordering on impossible, depending on their method, for hackers to crack your password.
Traditionally, people would create easily guessable passwords that are easy to remember. Passwords like “123456” or “password” can be cracked in seconds by cybercriminals.
These types of passwords give cybercriminals an easy way into your account.
Read more: Why people are the weakest link in cybersecurity
How to keep your passwords safe for use
The biggest issue with strong passwords is that they’re hard to remember, which is why password managers will become your best friend.
A password manager stores all your passwords in one place, so you don’t have to remember them. They can autofill your login data for you, so you don’t have to type it in manually.
Most password managers also come with a password generator, too, so there’s no need for separate tools.
What are the best password generators? (and managers)
Most password managers have a built-in password generator that lets you create strong passwords that sync across all your devices.
Below are a couple of the most common all-in-one password generators and password managers.
1Password
1Password is the gold standard for password generators and password managers. Its sleek design makes it easy to navigate, and its strong security features and reliability make it perfect for most users.
With passkey support for even quicker, more secure logins, and the requirement of a master password and a unique 34-character key to access, 1Password is one of the most secure password managers on the market.
LastPass
LastPass is a highly functional password manager that offers most of 1Password’s features (albeit on a smaller scale). Its ease of use makes it a great choice, but recent data breaches in 2022 have damaged user trust.
Norton
Norton is the most basic one out of the bunch. While strong on security, its functionality is limited. Unlike 1Password and LastPass, it doesn’t support secure password sharing.
You can use the password manager and generator for free if you already have a Norton 360 subscription.
Which one is best for you?
Most password generators do a very similar job, so any one of them will work well for your business.
The password manager, though, is where the differences lie.
If you’re a larger business with many users and want to save multiple logins shared across the team, 1Password or LastPass might be a better fit. If you don’t need all the nuts and bolts of a password manager like 1Password, Norton might be right for you.
Take a look at the features of each password manager and decide which one is best for you.
