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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchFor accounts that still use passwords, use a different, long password for every service, store those passwords in a password manager, and enable multifactor authentication (MFA) or a passkey when available. Change a password when there is evidence it has been compromised—not simply because a set amount of time has passed. NIST’s current digital identity guidance, SP 800-63B-4, was published in July 2025; it sets a 15-character minimum for single-factor passwords and prohibits mandatory character-mixture rules.
What good password hygiene means in 2026
Password hygiene is a set of habits for reducing the risk that a stolen or guessed credential will expose an account. The foundation is uniqueness: if one service is breached, a password used nowhere else cannot be tried against your other accounts. A password manager can generate and store those distinct credentials, while MFA or a passkey can add protection beyond a password.
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NIST’s guidance is an authoritative benchmark for organizations that fall within its scope; it does not mean every consumer website has adopted the same requirements or supports the same login methods. Older or different password rules may still appear on individual services.
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Make each password long and unique
NIST SP 800-63B-4 requires a minimum of 15 characters when a password is the only authentication factor. A verifier may allow a minimum of eight characters when the password is used as part of MFA. NIST recommends that services permit passwords of at least 64 characters. These are verifier requirements in the guideline, not a guarantee that every site will accept a password of that length.
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For Unicode passwords, the standard counts each Unicode code point as one character. It also says verifiers should accept printable ASCII characters, spaces, and Unicode. If a site rejects a long password or certain characters, use a unique password that meets that site’s rules rather than reusing one from another account.
Skip mandatory character recipes
NIST’s current standard prohibits rules that require a particular mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, or symbols. Such recipes can encourage predictable edits, such as adding the same symbol or suffix to an otherwise reused password. A password manager can create a long, random credential without relying on a memorable pattern.
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Length and uniqueness lower some risks, but a long password does not prevent every attack. If an attacker obtains a service’s password database, credentials may be attacked offline; the service’s password storage practices and your use of MFA matter too.
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NIST recommends password managers for accounts that require passwords. A manager can generate a different credential for each account and save it so you do not have to memorize or write down every password. It should support autofill; NIST’s guidance requires verifiers to allow password managers and autofill, and recommends paste support when autofill is unavailable.
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Protect the manager as carefully as any critical account. Use a long passphrase for its master password and enable MFA if the manager offers it. Review how master-password recovery works: recovery controls can affect access to the vault, and designs differ between services. Choose based on the features that matter to you, such as generation, autofill, cross-device access, MFA, and recovery; no single manager’s security design should be assumed to apply to all others.
Add MFA or use a passkey where available
MFA adds a separate check
MFA asks for more than one form of authentication. NIST says it can help protect an account even if its password is compromised. Options include a hardware security key or USB dongle, an authenticator app, a push notification, or a text-message code. These methods do not offer identical protection; NIST specifically notes that text codes are vulnerable. Availability and recovery options depend on the service and the devices you use.
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Passkeys reduce reliance on passwords
NIST describes passkeys as digital keys held on a device and often unlocked with that device’s PIN or biometric. A passkey is different for each login and, in NIST’s description, cannot be easily stolen through phishing. Passkeys may work through phones, computers, security keys, or some browsers, but both the service and your device must support them.
A compatible FIDO2 or passkey security key is an optional hardware MFA method, not a password manager and not a replacement for unique passwords on accounts that still require them. Before choosing one, check that the account supports it, its connector and operating system are compatible, and you have a recovery method if the key is lost.
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When to change a password
Do not change passwords on an arbitrary schedule if there is no evidence of compromise. NIST SP 800-63B-4 states: “Verifiers and CSPs SHALL NOT require subscribers to change passwords periodically.” The standard calls for a change when there is evidence that an authenticator has been compromised.
If a password is exposed and you reused it, replace it on every account where it appears. A new password on only the breached service leaves the other accounts vulnerable to attempts using the same credential.
What websites should do—and what you can control
NIST’s standard sets responsibilities for password verifiers, including services that check passwords. It calls for checking new passwords against blocklists of common, expected, or compromised values; limiting failed attempts; allowing password managers and autofill; and storing passwords using salted password hashing resistant to offline attacks. These are service-side controls—you cannot configure them for a third-party account.
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Quick Recap
A practical account-security checklist
- Use a distinct password for every account that still relies on passwords.
- Let a password manager generate and store long credentials; protect its master password with a long passphrase and enable its MFA if available.
- Turn on MFA or set up a passkey for accounts that support them, and understand how to recover access if you lose a device or factor.
- Change a password when there is evidence it was compromised, and replace it anywhere else you reused it.
- Do not rely on a longer password alone: account protection also depends on additional authentication and the service’s own safeguards.
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