Understanding Password Entropy: How Strong Is Your Password Really?
1 min read
Password strength is often misunderstood. Many users think adding numbers like 123 or a symbol at the end makes a password uncrackable. In reality, password entropy provides the best measure of how resistant a password is to brute-force attacks.
🔑 What is Password Entropy?
Entropy measures the unpredictability of a password, expressed in bits. Each additional bit of entropy doubles the difficulty of guessing the password.
For example:
| Entropy (bits) | Strength | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 28 bits | Weak | Password1 |
| 50 bits | Moderate | D0g$eatF00d |
| 80+ bits | Strong | uY6!aPzQf9#Lt3Kx |
📊 How is Entropy Calculated?
The formula is:
Entropy = log2(R^L)Where:
- R = size of character set (e.g., 26 lowercase letters = 26)
- L = length of the password
🚀 Try It Yourself
Use our Password Entropy Calculator to check your own password strength instantly.
🔗 Related Tools
In conclusion, entropy is the scientific way of measuring password strength. By aiming for at least 80 bits of entropy, you can significantly reduce the risk of your accounts being compromised.