Cybersecurity experts always advocate for a strong and unique password, and it is one of their top priority. They also continually identify the different patterns that make a strong, unique password. However, not many take this recommendation seriously, because they think it is difficult to remember or they are not able to come up with a unique character.
Why Strong/Unique Password is Important
Cybersecurity experts say how every day malicious cyber threat actors hack websites and online accounts, and post lists of usernames, email addresses, and passwords online. It is not only the password or data that is exposed with information that uniquely identifies the user. The information gives the hacker a chance to look for other accounts associated with that same user, such as banking accounts, work-related-emails, social media account etc. When the criminal finds those accounts he tries to access using the exposed password and if the password is reused, they get hold of the account. This is why strong and unique passwords are important.
Some of the Worst Password of 2018
After evaluating more than 5 million passwords leaked on the Internet, SplashData’s compiled a list of Worst Passwords of the Year. According to the company they found that users continue using the same predictable, easily guessable passwords.
President Trump debuted on this year’s list with “Donald” showing up as the 23rd most frequently used password. The #1 and #2 spots were “123456” and “password”.
Morgan Slain, CEO of SplashData, Inc. “Hackers have great success using celebrity names, terms from pop culture and sports, and simple keyboard patterns to break into accounts online because they know so many people are using those easy-to-remember combinations.”
Each year, SplashData evaluates millions of leaked passwords to understand which passwords were most used by computer users during that year. Even with the risks well known, many millions of people continue to use weak, easily-guessable passwords to protect their online information. 2018 was the fifth consecutive year that “123456” and “password” retained their top two spots on the list. The next five top passwords on the list are simply numerical strings.
SplashData, the provider of password management applications TeamsID, Gpass, and SplashID, releases its annual list in an effort to encourage the adoption of stronger passwords.
“Our hope by publishing this list each year is to convince people to take steps to protect themselves online,” says Slain. “It’s a real head-scratcher that with all the risks known, and with so many highly publicized hacks such as Marriott and the National Republican Congressional Committee, that people continue putting themselves at such risk year-after-year.”
SplashData’s Worst Passwords of 2018
1. 123456
2. password
3. 123456789
4. 12345678
5. 12345
6. 111111
7. 1234567
8. sunshine
9. qwerty
10. iloveyou
11. princess
12. admin
13. welcome
14. 666666
15. abc123
16. football
17. 123123
18. monkey
19. 654321
20. !@#$%^&*
21. charlie
22. aa123456 w
23. donald
24. password1
25. qwerty123
“It is estimated that almost 10% of people have used at least one of the 25 worst passwords on this year’s list, and nearly 3% of people have used the worst password, 123456”, said SplashData
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