Technological advancement has allowed more sophisticated tools to help in battling against hackers stealing our information. However, it never hurts to go back to the basics to strengthen your defenses – your password. So, how secure is your password? Here are five password checkers to help you test:
1. Comparitech Password Strength Checker
Founded in 2015, Comparitech is a platform providing reviews, information, and tools to help people make well-informed decisions when improving their cyber security and privacy online. The company focuses on password managers, antivirus, VPNs, firewalls, and more. Along with a Password Generator, the Comparitech Password Strength Checker is a free tool available to the public.
Can Comparitech Password Strength Checker Be Trusted?
Using the Comparitech Password Strength Checker is super easy. Upon keying in your password, the results instantly appear. Not only do they provide you with some basic information about your password's strength, but it also tells you the estimated time to crack your password.
Also, it looks at how complex your password is and deduces if it is common or not. Some tips are available to advise you on how to improve your password's strength. Although Comparitech Password Strength Checker does not dwell on the nitty-gritty details, it does give an overall conclusion on the strength of your password, which is sufficient for most.
A disclaimer states that keyed-in passwords are not stored and not processed locally in the browser, assuring you that nothing gets transferred online. Also, Comparitech expresses that the tool is not fool-proof and cannot fully account for the security of all passwords as there are inherent limitations.
2. LastPass Password Checker
Established in 2008 with headquarters in the US, LastPass is a pioneer in cloud security technology. They specialize in password and identity management solutions. How secure is your password? is LastPass’s free online password checker tool.
What Does LastPass Password Checker Offer?
Input your password, and you will get the results almost immediately with the overall strength rating given at the top. Scroll down to read the tips offered to help improve your password’s strength. Unlike Comparitech, LastPass gives you more detailed information by focusing on the length, repetitive characters, and upper and lower case letters.
However, it does not indicate how long it may take to crack your password as Comparitech does. For the free version, there is a disclaimer stating that any passwords you key in will not be stored or sent online anywhere.
Read here to learn more about LastPass.
There is a LastPass free app (iOS and Android) that you can download to help save passwords securely and perform auto-login for you. There are also extensions to popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
If you need more functions and features, check out their paid plans. They also have a 30-days free trial with no credit card required. However, if you are satisfied with their free version that offers unlimited passwords and a password generator, LastPass is a solid choice.
3. Kaspersky Password Checker
With over 24 years of cybersecurity experience, Kaspersky Lab was founded in 1997 and headquartered in the UK. Based on security intelligence technologies, their solutions help individuals and companies transact confidently and safely. Kaspersky's products range from antivirus and internet security to cloud security solutions. The Kaspersky Password Checker is their free online password checker tool.
Is Kaspersky Password Checker Safe?
I find the Kaspersky Password Checker too simple, and the recommendations offered were rather vague. That said, it provides information, such as the overall strength of the password (displayed as a horizontal bar) and the estimated time to crack your password. However, there are no zoomed-in tips specific to your password.
That said, Kaspersky does inform you if your password appears in any databases of leaked passwords which is thumbs up. They use “Have I Been Pwned,” a trusted service that gathers information about account and password leaks.
A comprehensive FAQ teaches cybersecurity best safety practices and how to strengthen your password. You can also explore the Kaspersky Password Manager free version to help you manage your passwords for unlimited devices, but restricted to 15 passwords and documents; this is available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
4. NordPass Password Strength Checker
Riding under the umbrella of Nord Security, a leader in cybersecurity in the global market, NordPass is a password management solution on any device. They also have a free password strength checker tool.
Is NordPass Password Strength Checker Safe?
Without downloading and installing anything, you can evaluate the strength of your password and check for exposure to any breaches by keying in your password via their online password strength checker tool. NordPass analyzes your password syntax (length – at least 12 characters, symbols, numbers, lowercase and uppercase letters) and informs you about its strengths and weaknesses.
The results are comprehensive. Also, you will get an estimated time to crack your password and if your password was in any past data breaches. NordPass has developed this free web tool in JavaScript with a high-security SSL connection. They also claim that your passwords never leave the browser and any stored.
Find out more about NordPass Password Manager
If you need other functions such as access to passwords during emergencies and identifying weak, old, and reused passwords, feel free to check out their paid plans.
5. UIC Password Strength Test
Developed by the University of Illinois at Chicago, the UIC Password Strength Test is based on its proprietary formulas to evaluate the overall strength of your password. They have also included many safe best practices for strong passwords on the right side of the web page.
UIC Password Strength Test Any Good?
At first glance, the UIC Password Strength Test tool’s interface does not seem as simple as the others on this list. However, once you key in your password, you'll find it quite easy to digest. You will see an in-depth insight into the strengths and weaknesses of your password. Like others on this list, the overall complexity rating is at the top with a score bar.
The tool looks at various criteria that result in several categories that showcase additions and deductions of points. Simply put, it assesses the effect of different aspects of your password in more detail. The password strengths are represented by the additions and weaknesses by the deductions.
For example, you gain points if you have included numbers and symbols. However, if you have repeated characters, you get minus points.
Like the others on this list, the UIC Password Strength Test tool runs locally and does not transmit your password over the internet. However, it does not offer the ‘days to crack’ value here because they consider this unreliable in the real world. Also, they have a disclaimer stating that this tool is not perfect and should only be a rough guide to improving your password.
Why a Strong Password is Crucial
While there is much advancement in cybersecurity, you cannot ignore that strong passwords are the first line of defense against identity theft. Your password safeguards your details, financial information, and web accounts. Hackers ceaselessly utilize brute force, phishing, guessing, dictionary word lists, and other ways to steal your passwords.
You may not know this, but password hacks are more rampant and pose a more serious threat than many. Once a hacker accesses your personal information, your web accounts are wide open. Not only is your money at stake, but identity theft can also result in irreparable damages for individuals and businesses.
Password Best Practices
Simple, short, and easy-to-guess passwords can take a short time to crack. As such, you aim to create virtually-uncrackable passwords. Strengthening your passwords must go hand in hand with other best safety practices to ensure you get the optimum protection at all times:
- Do not simply click any links on suspicious emails and websites
- Do not use public networks, especially for any of your online transactions
- Use reliable antivirus and anti-malware applications to protect incoming emails and files
- Use a firewall to keep watch over any unauthorized attempts – they check, filter, and block communications with unauthorized sources
- Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to safeguard your privacy and encrypt your data for enhanced security.
- Keep your software updated – hackers love to take advantage of any security holes in your software, so plug them in by ensuring they are always up to date.
- Avoid using pirated software
- Secure your privacy by getting the data brokers (those gathering data on you) to remove your data from online databases through Incogni from Surfshark.
Conclusion
You cannot afford to be lackadaisical on the internet. Hackers are always on the prowl for things to hack into and steal. A simple matter such as your password is not spared. So guard your passwords like you would the keys to your home.
Make your passwords tough to crack by checking against these five free password checkers. Your end goal is to throw off and thwart the hackers.
