Password Strength in 2025: What the Data Shows
As the Hive Systems 2025 password table shows, modern hardware has made short or simple passwords nearly useless. Using 12 RTX 5090 GPUs, attackers can brute-force many common passwords in minutes or even instantly.
The weakest password isn’t necessarily short—it’s reused. If you use the same password across multiple websites, a single data breach can expose all your accounts. This type of attack, known as credential stuffing, remains one of the most common ways cybercriminals gain access to corporate and personal systems.
That’s why Pegasus Technologies always recommends multifactor authentication (MFA). MFA adds a second verification step—such as a one-time code or app confirmation—that dramatically improves your protection, even if a password is compromised.
Why Long Passwords Beat Complex Ones
To create the strongest password in 2025 that you can still remember, focus on length, not unnecessary complexity.
According to Hive Systems, an 8-character password with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols could be cracked in about 11,000 years—but by simply increasing it to 15 lowercase characters, it could take 477 million years to brute-force.
The key takeaway? Your password doesn’t need random characters to be strong—it just needs to be long and unique.
For example, consider using the first verse of your favorite song (in lowercase, without spaces or punctuation) as your password. As long as it’s at least 15 characters and you haven’t shared it publicly, it’s both memorable and strong.
Updated NIST Guidelines for 2025
In April, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) finalized new recommendations that emphasize the importance of passphrases over complex, hard-to-remember combinations. The updated guidance encourages:
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Using long, memorable passwords (15+ characters).
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Avoiding forced password expiration policies.
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Screening new passwords against known breach databases.
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Encouraging or requiring multifactor authentication wherever possible.
These updates reflect a growing shift toward usability and real-world protection rather than outdated complexity rules.
You can review the full NIST password guidance on NIST’s official site.
Pegasus Tech Tip: Build a Better Password Strategy
At Pegasus Technologies, our cybersecurity experts help clients build policies and technologies that reduce password-related risks across Microsoft 365, cloud services, and endpoint environments.
If your organization hasn’t revisited its password or authentication strategy recently, it’s time to do so. Implementing long passphrases, MFA, and credential monitoring can make a measurable difference in your risk posture.
For more practical advice, check out our articles on ransomware protection services or explore our Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solutions to see how we help detect and stop credential-based attacks in real time.
Stay Secure with Pegasus Technologies
Cyber threats will continue to evolve, but good password hygiene remains one of the easiest ways to protect your organization. Combine long, unique passwords with MFA and ongoing user education, and you’ll be ahead of most attackers.
Have a question or an idea for a future Tech Tip? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us here to share your feedback or learn more about how Pegasus Technologies can strengthen your company’s security.
