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August 22, 2024
Question

Smart Password vs Random Password

  • August 22, 2024
  • 5 replies
  • 233 views

When using the smart password generator, it creates a password that is 19 characters long. When using random, I have it set to 20 characters. If I allow the smart password function to generate the 19 character password, when loaded into my manager it states it is an "excellent" password. But if I use the random function with 20 characters, it will state the password is "fantastic." So I tend to use the random function - why is the smart password not considered to be "fantastic?"


1Password Version: 8.10.40
Extension Version: 2.27.1
OS Version: macOS 14.6.1
Browser: Safari

5 replies

1P_Dave
1Password Employee
August 22, 2024

Hello @BenBob! 👋

Thank you for reaching out. So that I can better understand the situation, I'd like to ask a few questions:

  1. When you generate the smart password, do you allow 1Password to save the password? Or do you copy and paste it into 1Password yourself?
  2. Are you able to provide the website address of the website where you're seeing the smart password being rated as "Excellent"?

I look forward to hearing from you.

-Dave

BenBobAuthor
August 23, 2024

Thank you Dave - I have noticed this on different sites over time - sometimes I allow1P to save the password it generates and at other times I have copied and pasted. My most recent experience was yesterday when I had to create a new password for Royal Caribbean which I allowed 1P to generate it as a smart password with 19 characters. I don't remember if I allowed it to save or I copied and pasted.

And a related question maybe you know the answer to: The reason I had to create a new password for Royal Caribbean is because it stated my password was incorrect when I tried to sign in - which it was not, as it was saved in my 1P. I find this happens every now and then on different websites where it says it is incorrect (and it is not), so I have to say "forgot password" and create a new one. Why does this happen? It is annoying that they tell me my password is wrong when I know it is correct!

1P_Dave
1Password Employee
August 23, 2024

@BenBob

Thanks for the reply. If you copy and paste a password, even if it was originally generated by 1Password, that password will be rated weaker since 1Password can't guarantee that the pasted password is truly random and it has to assume that it is human created rather than guessing if it's random or not.

If you run into a case where 1Password generates a smart password, and you save the password using 1Password directly rather than copying and pasting it, then let me know which website you encountered this on.

The reason I had to create a new password for Royal Caribbean is because it stated my password was incorrect when I tried to sign in - which it was not, as it was saved in my 1P. I find this happens every now and then on different websites where it says it is incorrect (and it is not), so I have to say "forgot password" and create a new one. Why does this happen? It is annoying that they tell me my password is wrong when I know it is correct!

It's possible that the new password wasn't saved when it was generated. I recommend that, for the next little while, you stop copy and pasting password entirely and use this method to change your passwords: Use the password generator to change and strengthen your passwords

Let me know if you still run into the issue even when exclusively using this method.

-Dave

BenBobAuthor
August 24, 2024

OK Dave, thank you

1P_Tommy
1Password Employee
August 24, 2024

On behalf of Dave, you're welcome.