Kennwort

Kennwort is a secret string used to authenticate a person or authorize access to a computer system, service, or device. In German, the term is largely synonymous with Passwort, though Kennwort is sometimes encountered in more formal or official contexts. The word derives from kennen (“to know”) and Wort (“word”).

In information technology, a Kennwort is typically entered by a user and checked against a stored credential. Modern systems store only a hashed and salted version of the Kennwort rather than the plaintext, making it harder for attackers to recover the original value if data are breached. Users are advised to choose long, random, and unique Kennwörter for different accounts; consider using passphrases that mix words, spaces, or symbols to increase entropy.

Security considerations include protection against phishing, credential stuffing, brute-force attacks, and malware such as keyloggers. Best practices include using a password manager to generate and store long random Kennwörter, enabling two-factor authentication where available, avoiding reuse across accounts, and not writing passwords in insecure places. Many security guides advise against frequent mandatory changes unless a breach occurs; changes after compromise are recommended, while otherwise preserving password stability.

Within German-language usage, Kennwort is increasingly superseded by Passwort in informal contexts, but both terms appear in technical and official texts. Other related terms include Geheimwort (secret word) and Codewort (code word used for identification).