A recent study of 300 million hacked accounts has revealed the most dangerous pop culture passwords, with “Superman” taking the top spot, followed by “Blink-182” and “Batman.” This study found that many people use common names and references for their passwords, making them easy to remember but also leaving their online accounts vulnerable to hackers if one account is compromised.
According to Mailsuite, one in four people reuse the same password across multiple sites, allowing hackers to easily gain access to multiple accounts in a domino effect. The most common pop culture references used as passwords include superheroes, movie characters, sports team names, and rock stars. “Superman” appeared in 584,697 data breaches, followed by “Blink-182” at 482,244 and “Batman” at 352,422.
Actors surprisingly do not feature in the top 25 of pop culture passwords, with Zac Efron topping the list, followed by Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp. Only one woman, Emma Watson, made it to the top 10. This trend towards older cultural icons may suggest that younger people are being more cautious with their passwords.
For those creating their own passwords, it is recommended to follow five steps to ensure security. However, using a password manager is a better option as it creates secure passwords for each account while keeping the user’s life simple. Forbes Advisor suggests LastPass, Nordpass, and 1Password as top options, while Apple’s iCloud Keychain and Google’s password manager integrated into Chrome are free and reliable alternatives.
One key tip for creating passwords is to avoid personal information, as over a third of people include such details in their passwords. Hackers can easily crack the code by scouring social media feeds for clues, making personalized passwords a major security risk. By using a password manager, users can protect their accounts with complex and secure passwords without the risk of using predictable or easily hackable information.
