A passphrase is a string of words used as a password to log in to an online account or application. Since passphrases consist of a combination of random words, they are typically longer than traditional passwords. Strong passphrases consist of at least 16 characters but can go upwards of 100 characters, making them both easy to remember and difficult for cybercriminals to crack or guess.

Here are some of the benefits of using passphrases over traditional passwords.

Easier to remember than traditional passwords: Most individuals find that remembering four or more random words is easier to remember than a complex password that consists of random characters.

More secure than traditional passwords: Since passphrases can be made with upwards of 100 characters, they are considered to be more secure than traditional passwords that don’t follow password length best practices.

Can’t be as easily cracked as traditional passwords: Passwords are often created without following password best practices, meaning they are short and not complex. While cybercriminals have several types of password-cracking methods, cracking a long passphrase would take more time for a cybercriminal than a short, weak password.