If you're still using this insecure password method, it's time to stop!

Such is the case with Keyboard Walk Password, which seems strong at first but is actually very insecure.

So, what are Keyboard Walk Passwords and why shouldn't you use them?

What is Keyboard Walk Password?

'Keyboard walking' is a type of password that is created by drawing a specific pattern on the keys on the keyboard instead of using a mnemonic word or symbol. The idea is that you remember the pattern you 'draw' on the keyboard instead of what you type.

For example, if you run your finger along the top row of a QWERTY keyboard, you'll create the password "qwertyuiop." At first glance, it looks like a secure password — it doesn't contain common words, it's a jumble of characters, and it's easy to type to unlock your computer.

But in reality, "qwertyuiop" is one of the most common passwords, making it easy to guess and making it easier to access your account.

Why is Keyboard Walk Password weak?

Here's the problem with Keyboard Walk Passwords: Anytime a password is derived from a specific pattern or common thought that people tend to have, it's considered a common password. Hackers always keep an eye out for passwords that people commonly use and use them when trying to break into someone's account.

Unfortunately, while drawing patterns on your keyboard may seem clever, other people have had the same idea, so there's a good chance that the pattern you come up with has already been thought of and used by hundreds of thousands of other users.

Examples of popular Keyboard Walk Passwords

Luckily, we have a way to see which Keyboard Walk Passwords are the most popular. This is because many passwords have been leaked from account databases, allowing researchers to record and rank each password's popularity.

According to Spec Ops report, here are the 10 most used Keyboard Walk Passwords:

1. Qwerty (found over 1 million times)
2. qwert
3. wet
4. asdfg
5. stress
6. zxcvbnm
7. drew
8. qwertyuiop
9. asdfgh
10. vbnhb

If you trace the keys in each password with your finger, you can see the pattern each person used to create that password. Most of them are just straight lines on the keyboard, but some are circles. For example, 'Drews' and 'vbnhb' involve drawing a memorable circle on the keyboard.

How to secure your account with a strong and unique password

Keyboard Walk Passwords are easy to remember, but they also make it very easy for hackers to access your accounts. If you want to improve your online security but don't want to remember long, complicated passwords, there are two great alternatives to try.

Use strong but memorable passwords

Here's some good news: There are ways to create strong passwords that are still memorable. Sometimes you can take something you like, like a famous quote or personal information, and combine it with numbers and symbols to create a strong password.

Use a password manager

If you want to use secure passwords but can't remember them all, it's time to start using a password manager. These managers will remember your account passwords, meaning you can keep them as secure as possible without having to worry about remembering them later.

Keyboard Walk Passwords may be convenient, but they're easy for hackers to guess. Now you know how to improve your passwords, including using stronger, better passwords if you want.

Lesley Montoya

Update 31 August 2024