Let’s be honest: How many times have you used something like “123456” or “123123” as your password? With so many online accounts to juggle, it’s tempting to choose simple passwords, even though we know they’re weak. Unfortunately, the NordPass report shows that we’re still making the same mistakes when it comes to keeping our accounts secure.
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The most popular (and insecure) passwords of 2024
NordPass has released its top compilation 200 most popular passwords use for personal and business purposes. In collaboration with threat management company NordStellar, NordPass analyzed a massive database of 2.5 TB of global passwords, including those originating from the dark web. Spoiler alert: they’re still shockingly insecure.
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Password Hall of Shame
We’re all guilty of using weak passwords at some point, but the scale of this digital negligence is truly staggering. For the sixth year in a row, “123456” has claimed the dubious honor of being the most common password used by more than 3 million people.
It is followed by slightly more “complex” cousins: “123456789” and “12345678.” But wait, it gets worse. The password “password” is still high on the list, used by almost 700,000 people. It’s as if we’re collectively daring hackers breaking into our accounts.
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THIS SCAMMAL MALWARE ASKS FOR YOUR PASSWORDS AND PERSONAL INFORMATION
Top 10 most common passwords
Here are the 10 most common passwords in 2024 according to NordPass:
1) 123456
2) 123456789
3) 12345678
4) password
5) qwerty123
6) qwerty1
7) 111111
8) 12345
9) secret
10) 123123
Corporate negligence
You might think that people in professional settings, where sensitive data is involved, would be more careful. Think again. The corporate world mirrors personal password habits alarmingly closely. The same weak passwords dominate business accounts, with “123456” leading the way, used in more than 1.2 million cases.
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DATA BOKER ERRORS HOW MILLIONS ARE EXPOSED TO PUBLIC PASSWORDS
Consequences of weak passwords
Using such easy-to-guess passwords is like leaving your front door wide open in a neighborhood full of burglars. These passwords can be cracked in less than a second, potentially compromising your account, identity theft and a host of other digital nightmares.
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Strengthening your digital defenses
So how can we break this cycle of password mediocrity?
1) Go long: Aim for passwords that are at least 20 characters long.
2) Mix: Use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special symbols.
3) Uniqueness is key: Never reuse passwords on multiple accounts.
4) Regular examinations: Periodically evaluate and update your passwords.
5) Consider using a password manager: A password manager will securely store and generate complex passwords. It will also help you create unique passwords that are hard to crack and a hacker could never guess. Plus, it keeps track of all your passwords in one place and fills them in for you when you sign in to your account so you never have to remember them yourself. The fewer passwords you remember, the less likely you are to reuse them for your accounts.
What qualities should I look for in a password manager?
When it comes to choosing the best password manager for you, here are some of my top tips:
- Distributes sure
- Works flawless on all your devices
- It creates unique complicated passwords which are different for each account
- It is automatically filled login and password fields for apps and pages you revisit
- there is browser extension for any browsers you use to automatically insert passwords for you
- It enables a flawless in case the primary password is ever lost or forgotten
- It checks that your existing passwords are secure and warns you if it is ever threatened
- Use it two-factor authentication security
Learn more about mine best password managers 2024 with expert review here.
6) Start using passwords: Passwords they are designed to replace traditional passwords and are gaining in popularity, especially among large companies and websites. Far more secure and reliable than regular passwords, passwords let you log in to websites and apps automatically using facial recognition, fingerprint authentication, or a physical security key.
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Clearly, we need to step up our password game. Using weak passwords like “123456” is a gamble we can’t afford, especially since we spend so much of our lives online. By taking simple steps, such as creating longer, more complex passwords and using a password manager, we can better protect ourselves from cyber threats. Let’s make 2025 the year we prioritize our digital security and leave those outdated passwords behind.
What’s the worst password you’ve ever used and did anything bad happen because of it? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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