The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) encourages all individuals and businesses to create passphrases and use a strong password manager to protect against identity compromise and data breaches.
What is a passphrase?A passphrase uses 4 or more random words. For example, ‘crystal onion clay pretzel’ or ‘red house sky train’. The longer the passphrase, the stronger it is.
Relying on a weak password makes you an easy target for cybercriminals to access your accounts, steal your identity and even take your money. Changing your password to a passphrase can better protect your accounts.
How do I create a strong passphrase?
A strong passphrase helps keep your personal information secure, protects your emails, files and other content.
You can create a strong passphrase by making it:
- long,
- unpredictable, and
- unique.
If a website or service requires a complex password, including symbols, capital letters, or numbers, you can include these in your passphrase.
Use a password manager
Remembering a password or passphrase can be overwhelming. People often take shortcuts by reusing the same password across multiple accounts. In fact, research commissioned by the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia found only 54% of Australian businesses regularly use password managers.
Use the ACSC’s resources
Use our easy-to-follow guides and new video to learn how to create a strong passphrase and use password managers to protect your important information and accounts against cyber threats.
- Guidance on passphrases and password managers
- Passphrases video
- Creating strong passphrases
- Set secure passphrases
- Quick wins for your password manager.
Find out more
Find more information and guidance on creating passphrases and using password managers on the ACSC website.