Is Your Password Strong Enough? The Truth About Password Security

Here is a sobering statistic: 81% of data breaches are caused by weak or stolen passwords. Yet most people still use passwords like "123456", "password", or their pet's name followed by a birth year. The disconnect between what we know about password security and what we actually practice is staggering.

The real problem is not that people are lazy — it is that they genuinely do not know what constitutes a strong password. Length? Complexity? Randomness? The answer is all three, but the proportions matter more than you think.

Why Most Password Advice is Outdated

For years, security experts told us to create passwords with uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. The classic advice produced passwords like P@ssw0rd! — which feels complex but is trivially easy for modern cracking tools to break.

The problem is that humans are predictable. When told to add a number, we add "1" or our birth year. When told to add a special character, we use "!" or "@". When told to capitalize, we capitalize the first letter. Attackers know these patterns and exploit them ruthlessly.

What Actually Matters: Entropy

Password strength is measured in bits of entropy — the mathematical unpredictability of a password. A password with 40 bits of entropy can be cracked in seconds. A password with 80 bits takes centuries. The key factors are:

• Length: Every additional character exponentially increases cracking time. A 16-character password is billions of times harder to crack than an 8-character one
• Character set size: Using lowercase + uppercase + numbers + symbols gives you a pool of ~95 characters per position
• Randomness: Truly random characters beat dictionary words every time, even if the dictionary word is longer

How Modern Password Cracking Works

Understanding the threat helps you appreciate why password strength matters:

Brute Force Attacks

The attacker tries every possible combination. A modern GPU can attempt billions of combinations per second. An 8-character lowercase password has about 209 billion possibilities — crackable in under a minute.

Dictionary Attacks

Instead of trying every combination, attackers use lists of common passwords, words, names, and phrases. These lists contain millions of entries and catch the vast majority of human-chosen passwords.

Rule-Based Attacks

Attackers apply common human patterns to dictionary words: capitalize first letter, add numbers at the end, replace "a" with "@", replace "o" with "0". This catches passwords like P@ssw0rd123! almost instantly.

Why pktools.tech Password Strength Checker Stands Out

Real Entropy Calculation

Unlike simple strength meters that just check for character types, the pktools.tech checker calculates actual entropy bits, estimates real-world crack time against modern hardware, and identifies common patterns that weaken your password.

Zero Data Collection

This is critical — many online password checkers send your password to a server for analysis. That completely defeats the purpose. The pktools.tech checker runs entirely in your browser. Your password never leaves your device. Period.

Actionable Feedback

The tool does not just tell you "weak" or "strong." It explains why your password is weak and gives specific suggestions to improve it — like adding more length, increasing character diversity, or removing common patterns.

Best Practices for Password Security

1. Use a password manager: Generate and store unique, random passwords for every account
2. Minimum 16 characters: Length is the single most important factor
3. Enable 2FA everywhere: Even strong passwords can be phished — 2FA adds a critical second layer
4. Never reuse passwords: One breach should not compromise all your accounts
5. Test regularly: Use tools like pktools.tech to verify your passwords meet modern standards

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the tool store my password?

Absolutely not. All analysis happens in your browser. Nothing is transmitted to any server.

What is a good entropy score?

Aim for at least 60 bits. Above 80 bits is excellent. The tool shows you exactly where your password falls.

Are passphrases better than random passwords?

A 4-word random passphrase like "correct horse battery staple" has good entropy and is easier to remember, but a truly random 16+ character password is still mathematically stronger.