The most common passwords in the world are still “123456,” “password,” and “qwerty.” In 2024, these appeared in billions of breached records. A hacker with a decent GPU can crack these in under a second. Even “P@ssw0rd!” — which looks secure at first glance — falls in minutes because it follows predictable substitution patterns that cracking tools check first.
The solution is simple: use a random password generator. Let the computer create a string that no human would ever think of, no pattern-matching algorithm can predict, and no brute-force attack can crack in a reasonable timeframe.
The Password Generator on AllTools creates truly random passwords using your browser’s cryptographic random number generator. Custom length, character sets, and passphrase options — all generated locally in your browser. The password never leaves your device.
What Makes a Password Strong?
Password strength comes down to one concept: entropy — the measure of randomness and unpredictability. Higher entropy means more possible combinations an attacker would need to try.
Length beats complexity
A 20-character password made of only lowercase letters (26^20 = 19.9 octillion combinations) is stronger than an 8-character password with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols (95^8 = 6.6 quadrillion combinations). Length contributes more entropy per character than adding more character types.
This is counterintuitive because many password policies emphasize complexity (“must include uppercase, lowercase, number, and symbol”) over length. Modern security guidance from NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) now recommends prioritizing length over complexity requirements.
Randomness is essential
“MyDog$Name2024!” uses uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols — but it’s predictable. It combines common words, a year, and a symbol. Password cracking tools start with dictionary words, common substitutions ($=s, 0=o, @=a, 1=l), and patterns (appending numbers and symbols).
A truly random password like kX9#mP2$vQ7&nL4@jR has no pattern to exploit. An attacker can’t use dictionaries, substitution rules, or pattern matching — they’re forced to try every possible combination.
How long until it’s cracked?
| Password Type | Example | Entropy (bits) | Time to Crack (10B guesses/sec) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 lowercase | abcdef | 28.2 | < 1 second |
| 8 mixed case + numbers | aB3dEf7h | 47.6 | ~4 hours |
| 8 all character types | aB3$eF7! | 52.6 | ~5 days |
| 12 all character types | kX9#mP2$vQ7& | 78.8 | ~19 million years |
| 16 all character types | kX9#mP2$vQ7&nL4@ | 105.1 | ~1.2 trillion years |
| 4-word passphrase | correct horse battery staple | ~58 | ~18 years |
| 5-word passphrase | correct horse battery staple door | ~72 | ~150,000 years |
At 10 billion guesses per second (achievable with modern GPUs), a 12-character random password with all character types would take millions of years to crack. A 16-character password is essentially uncrackable with current technology.
Types of Passwords
The AllTools Password Generator supports multiple password styles for different use cases:
Random passwords
The strongest option. A random string of characters with no pattern, no words, no predictability.
Example: Vk$8mN#2pL@9xR&4
Best for: Any account where you’ll copy-paste from a password manager. High-security accounts (banking, email, cloud services). API keys and service credentials.
Drawback: Impossible to memorize. You need a password manager to store them.
Passphrases
Multiple random words strung together. Easier to remember than random character strings while still providing strong entropy.
Example: umbrella-telescope-marble-junction-frost
Best for: Master passwords (the one password you memorize to unlock your password manager). Device unlock passwords. Situations where you need to type the password from memory.
Why it works: Each word is drawn from a large dictionary (thousands of words). Five random words from a 7,776-word list give about 64 bits of entropy — strong enough for most purposes. Four words is adequate for non-critical accounts.
PINs
Numeric-only passwords of configurable length.
Example: 847291
Best for: Phone unlock codes, ATM PINs, numeric-only fields. Note that 4-digit PINs (10,000 combinations) are inherently weak — use 6+ digits when the system allows it.
Memorable passwords
A hybrid approach that generates passwords with a mix of pronounceable syllables, numbers, and symbols. Easier to remember than fully random strings, but less predictable than dictionary words.
Example: Bax7-Kem2-Rup9
Best for: Accounts where you occasionally type the password and want something that sticks in memory better than pure randomness.
How the Generator Works
The AllTools Password Generator uses crypto.getRandomValues() — the browser’s built-in cryptographic random number generator. This is not pseudo-random. It draws from your operating system’s entropy sources (hardware noise, timing data, user input) to produce truly unpredictable values.
Why this matters
Many programming tutorials generate “random” passwords using Math.random(), which is a pseudo-random number generator. Pseudo-random means the output is deterministic — given the same seed, it produces the same sequence. An attacker who knows (or can guess) the seed could predict the password.
crypto.getRandomValues() uses a cryptographically secure random number generator (CSPRNG) that:
- Cannot be predicted from previous outputs
- Draws from hardware entropy sources
- Is the same API used by encryption libraries and security tools
- Is the recommended standard for security-sensitive random number generation
The generation process
- You configure your preferences — length, character types, passphrase vs random
- The generator calls
crypto.getRandomValues()to get cryptographically random bytes - These bytes are mapped to characters from your selected character set
- The resulting password is displayed in your browser
- Nothing is sent to any server — the entire process runs in JavaScript on your device
Comparison: Weak vs Strong Password Examples
| Password | Strength | Why |
|---|---|---|
password | Terrible | Dictionary word, #1 most common password |
123456789 | Terrible | Sequential numbers, #2 most common |
MyDog2024! | Weak | Dictionary words + predictable pattern |
P@$$w0rd! | Weak | Common word with predictable substitutions |
Sarah1990 | Weak | Name + birth year — easily guessable from social media |
Tr0ub4dor&3 | Medium | Complex but follows substitution patterns |
kX9#mP2$vQ7& | Strong | 12 random characters, all types |
Vk$8mN#2pL@9xR&4jW | Very strong | 20 random characters, all types |
correct horse battery staple | Strong | 4 random words, good entropy, memorable |
umbrella-telescope-marble-junction-frost | Very strong | 5 random words, excellent entropy |
The key insight: perceived complexity (symbols, mixed case) matters less than actual randomness and length.
Where NOT to Store Passwords
Generating a strong password is step one. Storing it securely is step two.
Don’t store passwords in plain text files
A file called passwords.txt on your desktop is visible to anyone with access to your computer, any malware scanning your filesystem, and any backup system that captures your files.
Don’t email passwords to yourself
Emails are stored on servers (yours and the recipient’s), transmitted without end-to-end encryption (in most cases), and searchable. A password in your email is a password on multiple servers you don’t control.
Don’t rely on browser “remember password”
Browser password storage is convenient but varies widely in security. Some browsers encrypt saved passwords; others store them in accessible formats. Anyone with physical access to your device can often view saved passwords through browser settings.
Don’t use the same password across sites
When one site is breached (and breaches happen constantly), attackers try that email/password combination on every major service. This is called credential stuffing. If you reuse passwords, one breach compromises all your accounts.
Do use a password manager
Store generated passwords in a dedicated password manager. The AllTools Password Manager stores passwords locally in your browser with AES-256 encryption. For cloud-synced alternatives, Bitwarden (open source) and 1Password are strong options.
Combining with Password Manager
The ideal workflow:
- Generate a unique password for each account using the Password Generator
- Store it in your Password Manager or another secure vault
- Memorize only your master password (use a passphrase for this)
- Check strength with the Password Strength Checker to verify your master password is solid
This gives you unique, uncrackable passwords for every account while only requiring you to remember one master password.
Password Policies by Platform
Different platforms have different minimum requirements. These are minimums — always exceed them:
| Platform | Minimum Length | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Google (Gmail) | 8 characters | Mix of letters, numbers, symbols recommended |
| Apple ID | 8 characters | Uppercase, lowercase, number required |
| Microsoft | 8 characters | Uppercase, lowercase, number, symbol (at least 3 of 4) |
| AWS (root) | 8 characters | Uppercase, lowercase, number, symbol all required |
| AWS (IAM) | Configurable | Organization-defined policy |
| GitHub | 8 characters | 15+ recommended; number or lowercase required |
| Bank of America | 8-20 characters | Uppercase, lowercase, number required |
| Chase | 8-32 characters | Letter and number required |
| PayPal | 8 characters | Letter, number, and symbol required |
Recommendation: Ignore the minimums. Generate 16+ character passwords for every account. The minimums exist for backward compatibility with people who still want to use “password123.”
Comparison vs LastPass Generator vs Bitwarden vs 1Password Generator
| Feature | AllTools | LastPass | Bitwarden | 1Password |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $3/mo | Free (basic) | $3/mo |
| Account required | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Password generation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Passphrase generation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Password storage | Separate tool | Built-in vault | Built-in vault | Built-in vault |
| Generated locally | Yes (browser) | Yes (extension) | Yes (extension) | Yes (extension) |
| Randomness source | crypto.getRandomValues | Proprietary | crypto.getRandomValues | Proprietary |
| Custom length | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Custom character sets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-fill | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Strength checker | Separate tool | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in (Watchtower) |
| No installation needed | Yes | No (extension) | No (extension) | No (extension) |
When to use AllTools
When you need to generate a password quickly without installing an extension or creating an account. Open the browser, generate, copy, done. Also useful when you’re on a shared or temporary computer where you can’t install browser extensions.
When to use a dedicated password manager
When you manage dozens or hundreds of passwords across multiple devices. The auto-fill, cloud sync, and integrated generation of LastPass, Bitwarden, or 1Password provide a smoother daily workflow. Generate with AllTools as a supplement or when you need a quick password without your vault.
FAQ
Are generated passwords truly random?
Yes. The AllTools Password Generator uses crypto.getRandomValues(), which is a cryptographically secure random number generator built into every modern browser. It draws entropy from hardware sources and is designed specifically for security applications. The output cannot be predicted from previous outputs, and the same password will never be generated twice.
How often should I change passwords?
Current security guidance (NIST SP 800-63B) recommends against regular password rotation. Changing passwords every 90 days (the old advice) leads to weaker passwords because people make predictable changes (Password1 → Password2 → Password3). Instead, use strong unique passwords and change them only when you have reason to believe they’ve been compromised.
What if a site doesn’t allow special characters?
Some older systems restrict which characters you can use. If a site rejects symbols, generate a longer password using only letters and numbers. A 20-character alphanumeric password (62 possible characters per position) has 120 bits of entropy — more than enough.
How long should my password be?
For most accounts, 16 characters with all character types is excellent. For high-security accounts (email, banking, password manager master password), use 20+ characters. For passphrases, 4-5 random words provide strong security.
Can someone at AllTools see my generated password?
No. The password is generated entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No network request is made during generation. The password exists only in your browser’s memory and on your screen. AllTools has no server component for the password generator — there’s nothing to see on their end.
Should I use a passphrase or a random password?
Use a passphrase for the one password you need to memorize (your password manager’s master password or your device login). Use random passwords for everything else — you won’t need to type or remember them since your password manager handles that.
Generate a Strong Password Now
Open the Password Generator and create a unique, uncrackable password in seconds. Customize length, character types, or switch to passphrase mode. No account, no server, 100% private.
Check your password’s strength with the Password Strength Checker, store it in the Password Manager, and set up two-factor authentication with the TOTP Generator. Explore the full Security tools category.
