How to Create a Correct Password in 2027: The Ultimate Guide (ANSSI & NIST)

The rules you thought were set in stone have fallen apart. In 2027, adding an “@” at the end of your first name or changing your password every 90 days no longer helps against automated attacks. Recommendations have changed radically: ANSSI, CNIL, and NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) now favor length over complexity, uniqueness, and multi-factor authentication.

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Whether you are an individual concerned about your digital life or a professional who must secure sensitive access, here is the step-by-step method for creating a correct password in 2027.

Step 1: Understand the new security paradigm

Before creating your password, you need to unlearn obsolete habits. The famous rule of “8 characters with an uppercase letter, a number, and a symbol” is now considered counterproductive. Why? Because it pushes people to create predictable passwords such as Password2025!, which cracking tools try first.

The real strength of a password lies in its entropy (its unpredictability). A long, random passphrase is much harder to crack than a short, complex string. NIST now requires a minimum length of 15 characters for a password used on its own (without two-factor authentication).

Step 2: The passphrase method

This is the method experts recommend for combining security and memorability.

• Choose 4 to 5 random words: They must have no logical link between them (avoid “cat” and “mouse”). For example: Horse-Curtain-Blue-Pizza.
• Add a separator: Use hyphens, spaces, or underscores to make the string easier to read and even longer.
• Insert an unpredictable number or symbol: Do not always put it at the end. Place it in the middle or at the beginning, for example: Horse-7Curtain-Blue-Pizza.

This passphrase easily exceeds 20 characters and remains simple for you to remember, but practically impossible for a machine to guess.

Step 3: The mnemonic phrase method (first letter)

If you prefer a more compact password, ANSSI recommends the first-letter technique. Take a sentence that only you know and keep only the first letter of each word, while including numbers and symbols.

Example:

• Sentence: “J'ai acheté 5 CD's pour cent euros cet après-midi” (“I bought 5 CDs for a hundred euros this afternoon”).
• Password: J'a5CDp€cam (keeping the case and the symbols).

Step 4: The golden rule of uniqueness

Never use the same password for two different services. This is the most exploited security flaw. If a site is hacked (and they often are), attackers immediately test your credentials on your email, your bank accounts, and your social networks. A unique password for each account is essential to limit the damage in the event of a leak.

Step 5: Use a password manager

How do you remember dozens of unique, complex passphrases? The answer is simple: you cannot, and you should not try. Use a password manager.

A password manager is an encrypted digital vault that generates and stores random, ultra-long passwords for each site. You only have to memorize one master password (which should be a strong passphrase). ANSSI recommends using a certified vault. It is the only practical way to apply the uniqueness rule without going mad.

Step 6: Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) or passkeys

Creating a password is only the first barrier. In 2027, it is not enough on its own.

• MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication): Turn on two-factor authentication wherever it is available. Prefer authenticator apps (TOTP) or physical security keys (FIDO2) over SMS, which are vulnerable to phishing.
• Passkeys: This is the shift already underway. Passkeys replace the password with biometric authentication (fingerprint or facial recognition) tied to your device. NIST and the FIDO Alliance now recommend passkeys as the safest method, because they are phishing-resistant by design. If a service offers to create a passkey, do it.

Step 7: What to do in the event of a data breach

The new rule is simple: stop changing your password every 90 days. Forced, periodic renewal is discouraged because it pushes people to create predictable variants (Spring2027!, Summer2027!). NIST and ANSSI recommend changing a password only when there is evidence of compromise (a data-breach notification). If you are warned of a leak, immediately change the password for the affected service and check whether you reused it elsewhere.

Summary: The perfect password checklist for 2027

• Length: At least 15 characters (or a passphrase of 4 to 5 words).
• Uniqueness: A different password for every account.
• Manager: Use a digital vault to store them.
• MFA: Turn on two-factor authentication (ideally a passkey or an app).
• No forced rotation: Change your password only after a confirmed breach.
• No personal information: Avoid names, dates of birth, or dictionary words.

By applying these steps, you are not following a trend: you are aligning your security with the highest industry standards for 2027 and beyond.