diff --git a/common/Crypto.cc b/common/Crypto.cc
index a7e4dbb..439d85f 100644
--- a/common/Crypto.cc
+++ b/common/Crypto.cc
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 #include <drogon/utils/Utilities.h>
 
+#include <openssl/evp.h>
+
+#include <array>
 #include <iomanip>
 #include <random>
 #include <sstream>
@@ -9,6 +12,39 @@
 
 namespace visione::crypto
 {
+namespace
+{
+constexpr int passwordIterations = 210000;
+constexpr size_t passwordHashBytes = 32;
+
+std::string toHex(const unsigned char *data, size_t size)
+{
+    std::ostringstream stream;
+    stream << std::hex << std::uppercase << std::setfill('0');
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < size; ++i)
+    {
+        stream << std::setw(2) << static_cast<int>(data[i]);
+    }
+    return stream.str();
+}
+
+std::string pbkdf2(const std::string &password,
+                   const std::string &salt,
+                   int iterations)
+{
+    std::array<unsigned char, passwordHashBytes> output{};
+    PKCS5_PBKDF2_HMAC(password.c_str(),
+                      static_cast<int>(password.size()),
+                      reinterpret_cast<const unsigned char *>(salt.data()),
+                      static_cast<int>(salt.size()),
+                      iterations,
+                      EVP_sha256(),
+                      static_cast<int>(output.size()),
+                      output.data());
+    return toHex(output.data(), output.size());
+}
+}  // namespace
+
 std::string sha256(const std::string &value)
 {
     return drogon::utils::getSha256(value);
@@ -36,27 +72,53 @@ std::string randomToken()
 
 std::string hashPassword(const std::string &password)
 {
-    const auto salt = drogon::utils::getUuid();
-    return "sha256$" + salt + "$" + sha256(salt + ":" + password);
+    const auto salt = drogon::utils::getUuid() + drogon::utils::getUuid();
+    return "pbkdf2_sha256$" + std::to_string(passwordIterations) + "$" + salt +
+           "$" + pbkdf2(password, salt, passwordIterations);
 }
 
 bool verifyPassword(const std::string &password, const std::string &hash)
 {
-    constexpr std::string_view prefix = "sha256$";
-    if (!hash.starts_with(prefix))
+    constexpr std::string_view legacyPrefix = "sha256$";
+    constexpr std::string_view pbkdf2Prefix = "pbkdf2_sha256$";
+
+    if (hash.starts_with(legacyPrefix))
+    {
+        const auto saltStart = legacyPrefix.size();
+        const auto hashStart = hash.find('$', saltStart);
+        if (hashStart == std::string::npos)
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        const auto salt = hash.substr(saltStart, hashStart - saltStart);
+        const auto expected =
+            "sha256$" + salt + "$" + sha256(salt + ":" + password);
+        return expected == hash;
+    }
+
+    if (!hash.starts_with(pbkdf2Prefix))
     {
         return false;
     }
 
-    const auto saltStart = prefix.size();
-    const auto hashStart = hash.find('$', saltStart);
-    if (hashStart == std::string::npos)
+    const auto iterationsStart = pbkdf2Prefix.size();
+    const auto saltStart = hash.find('$', iterationsStart);
+    if (saltStart == std::string::npos)
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+    const auto digestStart = hash.find('$', saltStart + 1);
+    if (digestStart == std::string::npos)
     {
         return false;
     }
 
-    const auto salt = hash.substr(saltStart, hashStart - saltStart);
-    const auto expected = "sha256$" + salt + "$" + sha256(salt + ":" + password);
+    const auto iterations =
+        std::stoi(hash.substr(iterationsStart, saltStart - iterationsStart));
+    const auto salt = hash.substr(saltStart + 1, digestStart - saltStart - 1);
+    const auto expected = "pbkdf2_sha256$" + std::to_string(iterations) + "$" +
+                          salt + "$" + pbkdf2(password, salt, iterations);
     return expected == hash;
 }
 
@@ -65,4 +127,3 @@ std::string hashSecret(const std::string &secret)
     return sha256("visione:" + secret);
 }
 }  // namespace visione::crypto
-
diff --git a/docs/MILESTONE_01.md b/docs/MILESTONE_01.md
index 9feff25..2e8febe 100644
--- a/docs/MILESTONE_01.md
+++ b/docs/MILESTONE_01.md
@@ -10,9 +10,10 @@
 - Focused regression tests for technical endpoints and core validation helpers.
 - Local admin seed: `admin@visione.local` / `ChangeMe123!`, with forced password change flag.
 - Multipart report photo upload endpoint storing files under `uploads/reports/`.
+- PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256 password hashes for new credentials, with legacy SHA-256 verification kept for existing local rows.
 
 ## To do next
-- Harden password hashing with Argon2id or bcrypt before production.
+- Consider Argon2id/bcrypt and password reset flows before production hardening.
 - Add real email provider configuration for non-local environments.
 - Add CIE/SPID integration design and provider adapters.
 - Expand frontend-driven API coverage as Vue screens are implemented.
diff --git a/migrations/003_admin_pbkdf2_password.sql b/migrations/003_admin_pbkdf2_password.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b7dd9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/003_admin_pbkdf2_password.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+UPDATE users
+SET password_hash = 'pbkdf2_sha256$210000$local-dev-admin-salt$A4683BDB63C1598400B6B196F53C830F8434BA645C4A4A70AB311B278223E698',
+    must_change_password = TRUE
+WHERE email = 'admin@visione.local';
+