Is anyone seriously still using “password” as a password? Worrisome but true based on a report from CyberNews which analyzed more than 15 billion passwords exposed by data breaches and other databases.
Some epically insecure passwords, such as the aforementioned “password,” continue to make the password hall of shame.
Despite advice from security experts to use strong and unique passwords, as well as two-factor authentication and password managers, people continue to use weak codes that even a novice cybercriminal could hack in a matter of seconds.
According to CyberNews, these are the 10 most commonly used and worst passwords in 2021:
1. 123456
2. 123456789
3. qwerty
4. password
5. 12345
6. qwerty123
7. 1q2w3e
8. 12345678
9. 111111
10. 1234567890
What can you do to strengthen your security?
Due to increasing amounts of personal information given to organizations that may be vulnerable to data breaches and password leaks, it is crucial to use secure, unique passwords.
Although there may be little you can do to prevent a large-scale data breach, you can take precautions by ensuring that your online accounts have strong passwords.
Avoid the obvious, use uncommon words, and try to come up with a phrase that conjures up a mental image. This will assist you in remembering the password.
You can add random characters in the middle of your words or between the words to make it more complicated.
All in all, come up with a unique password that only YOU can know. Make it long, use a mix of characters, avoid common substitutions, and don’t use memorable keyboard paths.
