AI Password Cracking in 2025: Key Findings
AI-powered password cracking has become dramatically faster in 2025, with 85.6% of common passwords now crackable in under 10 seconds[^1]. This acceleration stems from two main factors: advanced AI models that learn password patterns and powerful consumer GPUs.
Hardware Advances
The latest consumer graphics cards, particularly the RTX 5090, have transformed password cracking capabilities. Hive Systems reports that a setup of 12 RTX 5090s is now used as the benchmark for modern password cracking attempts[^2].
Time to Crack by Password Type
For bcrypt-hashed passwords (work factor 10):
- 8 characters or less: Instant crack regardless of complexity
- 10 characters with mixed characters: 27 years
- 12 characters with mixed characters: 244,000 years
- 16 characters with mixed characters: 19 trillion years[^2]
AI's Impact
AI tools like PassGAN have revolutionized cracking by:
- Learning common password patterns
- Recognizing user habits like capitalizing first letters
- Predicting likely passwords instead of random guessing[^1]
Security Recommendations
Recent findings emphasize:
- Length over complexity (minimum 16 characters)
- Use of password managers
- Implementation of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Adoption of passkeys where available[^3]
[^1]: Messente - How Quickly Can AI Crack Your Password?
[^2]: Hive Systems - Are Your Passwords in the Green?
[^3]: Forbes - AI Can Crack Your Passwords Fast—6 Tips To Stay Secure