Generate random passwords online

Posted on August 21st, 2008 by Richard Catto 5,133 views

Tired of coming up with unique strong random passwords of your own?

Everyone knows that a STRONG password is your first defence against your accounts being compromised, but we’re forgetful and lazy by nature and so we often recycle endlessly weak passwords whenever we sign up for new accounts.

And that can lead to not only one of your accounts being compromised but ALL of them.

So what is the best password strategy?

1. Always use a unique one per service you sign up for
2. Use a random password generator to create them for you on the fly
3. Store your passwords in a text file on your computer so that you don’t forget them and ensure that no-one else can easily access your password file.

Here are two easy to use online random password generators:

Secure Password Generator by PCTools

Bytes Interactive Random Password Generator

Tags: Password generators
Filed under Security |

10 Responses to “Generate random passwords online”

1. Natural Says:
   August 21st, 2008 at 12:57

   i just found that site a few days ago. cool, isn’t it.

   Naturals last blog post..Is Your Subscriber Count Showing?

2. nhuong Says:
   August 21st, 2008 at 22:15

   I have so many passwords. it’s hard to remember them all. As human being we’re just too lazy. For little things i use easy password, for important money issue i use random letters and numbers.

   But this is a good tool.

   nhuongs last blog post..Liu Xiang – One Country One Broken Dream

3. Dominic White Says:
   August 21st, 2008 at 23:32

   Be careful to make sure you aren’t generating passwords that others can see. Make sure the tool is using JavaScript (i.e. it is being generated on your computer, client-side and not on the server). Also, make sure the site is using SSL (HTTPS) the same thing that puts the lock in your browser when you do internet banking. That will make sure someone can’t just listen to the network and pick up passwords.

   If you have lots of passwords and want to store them securely, check out Password Safe (http://www.schneier.com/passsafe.html).

   Dominic Whites last blog post..Dan Kaminsky’s BlackHat USA ’08 Talk on the DNS Flaw

4. Relax Max Says:
   August 22nd, 2008 at 17:36

   Thank you for those links, Richard. I have a very bad habit of assigning the same password to more than one thing when I am in a hurry. Not always, but too often.

   Relax Maxs last blog post..Scientists: The UK continues to grow.

5. iWalk Says:
   August 22nd, 2008 at 19:27

   I use a kind of key produced by RSA.
   It changes every 30 second.

   iWalks last blog post..2008 European Cheap Flying Guide, With Full List Of Low Cost Airlines

6. Chris M Says:
   August 23rd, 2008 at 15:30

   Very useful software. What I did, we create an algorithm, which would allow me to easily assign passwords to all my web ventures, based on the name of the site, which made it easier to remember, but I realise that if one is cracked, I’ll have a huge problem. Thanks for this Richard *stumbled*

   Chris Ms last blog post..Cape Town as number 3 on World Monopoly board!

7. yanjiaren Says:
   August 24th, 2008 at 22:12

   I have al my passwords in a separate file too as I often change computers when I travel but great tips..gonna stumble it too.

   yanjiarens last blog post..My Dream House in Bhutan.

8. Ahpull Says:
   August 27th, 2008 at 10:18

   This is really useful software but there is a slight problem. How do I use all my random passwords. I mean great, I have super secure passwords but its hard to remember something like “dRa94wac.” It just doesn’t stick to my brain. When you have multiple passwords like that, how do you keep track of them all? I mean I used to write them down, but I’m pretty sure that is not too safe. So I suggest using http://www.mashedlife.com, its an online password manager. It will store the random passwords for you so you won’t have to deal with them. I’d say you should try it out and see what you think.

9. Richard Catto Says:
   August 27th, 2008 at 12:11

   @Ahpull:

   MashedLife sounds like an interesting service. I just wonder how safe it is.

10. smith.sean01 Says:
    October 3rd, 2010 at 22:30

    If your looking for a secure password generator give this one a try http://password.generator.org.za Keep it local, Keep it real.

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