"Getting hacked" sounds like something that happens to other people — big companies, celebrities, people who click on obviously sketchy links. In reality, the vast majority of account breaches we see trace back to something much less dramatic: a weak or reused password, on an account with no second layer of protection behind it. This guide covers both problems and how to fix them, ending with a free tool you can use right now to generate a genuinely strong password.
Why This Actually Matters
Attackers rarely sit there guessing your password one try at a time. Instead, when one website gets breached, the leaked list of usernames and passwords ends up traded and sold, and automated tools test those same combinations against hundreds of other sites in seconds — a technique called credential stuffing. If you've ever reused a password across more than one account, this is exactly the scenario that puts all of them at risk, not just the one that got breached.
For a small business, this isn't just a personal inconvenience. One compromised employee login — email, a shared business tool, a vendor portal — can expose customer data, financial accounts, or give an attacker a foothold to reach the rest of your network.
What Makes a Password Actually Strong
Forget the old advice about swapping letters for symbols — modern guidance (including from NIST, the federal standards body) puts far more weight on length than on complexity. Here's what actually holds up:
- Use at least 12–16 characters — length matters more than complexity
- Never reuse the same password across two or more accounts
- Avoid personal info that's easy to guess or find publicly — names, birthdays, pet names
- Don't just swap letters for numbers in predictable ways ("P@ssw0rd1" isn't much stronger than "Password1" to modern cracking tools)
- Change a password immediately if a service it's used on reports a breach
Try It: Free Password Generator
Coming up with a genuinely random password is harder than it sounds — left to our own devices, we default to patterns. Use the tool below to generate one instantly. Everything happens directly in your browser; your generated password is never sent anywhere or stored, including by us.
Password Generator
Runs entirely in your browser — your generated password is never sent anywhere or stored.
Need help auditing your business's account security or getting MFA rolled out across your team? Give us a call at (810) 742-2409.
What Is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?
MFA means proving who you are with more than just a password — typically something you know (your password) plus something you have (your phone or a security key) or something you are (a fingerprint or face scan). Even if your password leaks, MFA stops most account-takeover attempts cold, because the attacker still doesn't have that second piece.
Not all MFA methods are equally strong. Here's how the common options compare:
Text message (SMS) codes
The most familiar option and a fine starting point, but it's the weakest form of MFA — phone numbers can be hijacked through SIM-swapping fraud. Much better than no MFA at all, but not the strongest choice when something stronger is offered.
Authenticator apps (Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Authy)
Generate a new code every 30 seconds, right on your phone, without needing cell signal. A strong balance of security and convenience, and our default recommendation for most people and most businesses.
Push notification approval
You get a prompt on a trusted device and tap Approve or Deny. Fast and secure, as long as you never approve a login you didn't personally request.
Hardware security keys (e.g., YubiKey)
A physical device you plug in or tap to confirm it's really you. The strongest option available today, and the standard in high-security business environments.
How to Turn On MFA (The Right Way)
- Start with your most important accounts first. Email is the top priority — it's the recovery method for almost every other account you have — followed by banking and any business or admin logins.
- Look in Account Settings → Security. Search for "Two-Step Verification," "Multi-Factor Authentication," or "2FA" — most major services (Google, Microsoft, Apple, banks) have offered this for years.
- Choose an authenticator app over SMS when it's offered. It's free, takes about two minutes to set up, and is meaningfully more secure.
- Save your backup codes somewhere safe — not a screenshot on the same phone. You'll need them if you ever lose the device your MFA is tied to.
- Repeat for every account that offers it, starting with the ones that would do the most damage if compromised.
Common Questions
Is this password generator actually safe to use?
Yes — everything runs directly in your browser using your device's built-in secure random number generator. Nothing is transmitted, logged, or stored anywhere, including by us.
What's the difference between MFA and 2FA?
They're essentially the same idea. 2FA (two-factor authentication) specifically means exactly two factors, while MFA (multi-factor authentication) is the broader term that also covers three or more. In everyday use, most people use the terms interchangeably.
Is SMS-based MFA good enough?
It's far better than no MFA at all, but it's the weakest option because phone numbers can be hijacked through SIM-swapping. If a service offers an authenticator app or security key instead, that's the better choice — SMS is still a fine fallback.
How often should I actually change my passwords?
Modern security guidance has moved away from forced periodic changes for their own sake — a strong, unique password doesn't need to be rotated on a fixed schedule. The real trigger to change one is a specific event: a breach notice, suspected compromise, or reusing a password you now want to retire.