What is the generally accepted minimum length for a secure password?

The generally accepted minimum length for a secure password is 8 characters. This standard is based on the balance between usability and security. A password that is at least 8 characters long is considered to strike a reasonable compromise between being long enough to deter brute-force attacks and still manageable for users to remember.

Longer passwords naturally add to security, as they increase the complexity and the number of possible combinations an attacker would have to try. Passwords shorter than 8 characters are more susceptible to being cracked through exhaustive search methods due to the smaller pool of possibilities.

Organizations often recommend additional measures such as including a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols to further enhance password strength. However, the 8-character requirement remains a baseline guideline supported by many security frameworks and best practices, emphasizing the importance of length in creating secure passwords.