Secure Password and Passphrase Resources

Print Your Own Password Cards - print out a set of cards with upper and lower case letters and numbers. Shuffle the deck and deal out a random password.

Word Lists for Secure Passphrases - lists of words from various sources, for use in constructing secure passphrases.

Playing Cards Passphrase method - choose a secure passphrase from playing cards and a 10,000 word list. This method is similar to Diceware, using playing cards instead of dice, and longer word list.

Best Practices for Provably Secure Passphrases - 7 simple rules for secure passphrases.

How To Choose A Secure Passphrase - easy to remember, high degree of security.


Mild Criticism of Diceware - The overall method is useful and secure, but the word lists are problematic.

Criticism of Bruce Schneier's Password Method - His approach is an improvement on the usual method people use to choose a password, but not as secure as passphrases.


Useful Free Resources:
HashCalc - fast and easy-to-use calculator that allows to compute hashes, checksums, and HMACs for files, text, or hex strings.
VeraCrypt - the successor to TrueCrypt; encrypts files, folders, hard drives, flash drives, and more.
Password Safe - safely stores passwords in encrypted file. Download Password Safe
Secure Diceware Passphrase Generator - can be run offline.



The Pierces - Secret (music video) - "Got a secret. Can you keep it? Swear this one, you'll save. Better lock it in your pocket, taking this one to the grave."