What is the Most Secure Password to Use for Your Email?

The most secure password ever used for an email, recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records, was used by a cybersecurity professional and was 14,321 characters long. 

Fortunately, you don't need a 14,000-character password to protect your email.

For everyday use, the most secure password for your email is a long, unique, randomly generated password that you don't use anywhere else.

Current NIST guidance recommends passwords of at least 15 characters when a password is being used by itself.

What Does a Secure Email Password Look Like?

For maximum security, use a password manager to generate something random. For example:

f7#Qm9!Lx2@Vp8$Nz4Kt

Don't use that exact password. Anything published online should be considered unsuitable as a real password.

A good email password should be:

• At least 15 characters long

• Unique to your email account

• Difficult to predict

• Stored securely in a password manager

If you want something easier to remember, you can also use a long passphrase made from unrelated words, such as:

Cactus-River-Helmet-Lantern-47

Again, create your own rather than copying an example.

NIST specifically emphasizes password length and no longer recommends forcing people to use arbitrary combinations of uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Password Practices to Avoid

How you manage your password matters just as much as the password itself.

Avoid:

• Reusing your email password on other websites

• Using obvious passwords like Password123!

• Using your name, birthday, pet, company, or other personal information

• Using short or predictable passwords

• Making simple substitutions like P@ssw0rd

• Sharing passwords through email or text

• Storing passwords in unsecured notes or documents

• Changing a password repeatedly by adding another number to the end

NIST also recommends against requiring routine password changes unless there is evidence the password has been compromised.

Use a Password Manager

A password manager is one of the easiest ways to improve email security.

It can generate a long, random password for you, securely store it, and automatically enter it when you sign in. That means you don't have to memorize passwords or reuse the same one across multiple accounts. NIST recommends using a password manager as part of securing online accounts.

Don't Rely on Your Password Alone

Even the world's longest password won't protect you from every type of attack.

Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your email account as an additional layer of protection. If your provider supports passkeys, those can provide another strong alternative to passwords.

Need Help Protecting Your Business Email?

Strong passwords are important, but they are only one part of email security.

Tech Kooks helps businesses protect employee accounts with multiple layers of security. Even our entry-level Basic User package includes:

• Password management

• Advanced email security

• Phishing simulations

• Security awareness training

• Dark web monitoring

• Cloud detection and response

• Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace backup and recovery

If you want stronger protection for your business email without managing all of these tools yourself, explore Tech Kooks' managed IT plans.