This list of common passwords shows how little we understand about online security

Using strong passwords for your online accounts is a basic security measure to protect your information. But a new list from NordPass shows that important message doesn't seem to be getting across well enough.

The list of popular passwords is still led by "123456"

This list of common passwords shows how little we understand about online security Picture 1

NordPass recently released its annual list of the 200 most common passwords.

The most common password is '123456'. This password has been used more than 3 million times in the database. And it takes hackers less than a second to crack it – a huge security problem.

Other familiar choices in the top 10 include "password", "qwerty123" and "111111". Other choices include "tinkle", "monkey", "dragon" and "iloveyou".

What's interesting is that the report sorted passwords from 44 countries, and you can see the most popular choices for each country. For example, in Canada, "hockey" ranked 18th on the list. While in the UK, "arsenal" ranked 10th.

And Internet users are no more careful when it comes to protecting information at work. The report listed the most common business passwords, and the list of the top 10 most common passwords was nearly identical.

Even if you're using strong security measures, it's worth taking the time to look through the entire list to see how sloppy people are when creating passwords.

NordPass and NordStellar reviewed and analyzed a 2.5TB database extracted from a variety of public sources, including those on the dark web. No personal data was collected or sold for the purpose of the research.

How to improve password security

If you're using one of the passwords on the list, you should make some changes. There are a number of ways you can quickly improve the security of your password.

The easiest and most effective way is to find a password manager. It's a secure, central storage location for your password information. As you're searching, prioritize the features of this password manager to help manage all of your login information.

If you are an Apple fan and a Mac user, you can easily switch to Apple Passwords, a new app that is completely free and easy to use on Apple devices and even Windows.

And if you are looking for a more secure way to protect your information, then it is time to start using passkey.

Lesley Montoya

Update 09 December 2024

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