It seems like a constant refrain: use strong passwords, people! Yet, year after year, we see the same weak passwords topping the charts. NordPass, a leading password manager, has released its annual list of the most popular passwords, and the results are, frankly, disappointing. For the second year running, ‘123456’ reigns supreme as the most common and easiest password to crack. While it’s good news that ‘password’ has finally fallen from the top spot, the rest of the top five doesn’t inspire much confidence:
1. 123456
2. 123456789
3. 12345678
4. password
5. qwerty123
These predictable passwords are like open invitations for hackers. They can be cracked in mere seconds, putting your valuable online accounts and personal data at risk. If you find yourself using any of these passwords, it’s time for a serious security upgrade. It might feel like a hassle, but taking a few minutes to create a strong, unique password is far less stressful than dealing with the consequences of a data breach.
But it’s not just the top five that are cause for concern. NordPass’ extended list reveals some other alarmingly simple passwords, including:
* iloveyou
* monkey
* dragon
* 11111111
* secret
* abc123
* 00000000
* tinkle
* 88888888
* pokemon
* superman
* baseball
These choices clearly reveal personal interests, while others simply scream ‘easy target!’ It seems many people still haven’t grasped the importance of strong passwords, making it easy for hackers to gain access to their data.
If you’re struggling to come up with a strong password, don’t despair. There are helpful tools like password managers that can generate and store secure passwords for you. Additionally, using a unique email address for each online account can significantly enhance your security. It’s time to take your online safety seriously and ditch the weak passwords for good. The consequences of not doing so are just too great. Remember, a little effort now can save you a world of trouble later.
