The sixth annual analysis of personal password habits from NordPass and NordStellar revealed that many people do not put much thought into choosing their passwords for both personal and work accounts. The report highlighted that the most popular password in the world is still “123456”, used by millions of people. Other commonly used passwords included “123456789”, “password”, “qwerty”, and “secretpassword”. These weak passwords can be easily cracked in less than a second, putting users at risk of being hacked.
To conduct the analysis, NordPass reviewed a 2.5TB database extracted from public sources, including the dark web, and organized the data by country of origin. They also separated the data by corporate and personal credentials using related email addresses. The report found that password security is a global issue, with users in 44 countries using weak passwords that are easily compromised. This highlights the importance of creating strong, unique passwords for each account to protect personal and sensitive information.
Tips for creating stronger passwords include making them lengthy and avoiding easily guessed information such as birthdays, names, and common words. Users are advised not to reuse passwords for different sites to prevent hackers from gaining access to multiple accounts with a single password. Password managers are recommended as a way to securely store and manage passwords without the need to memorize complex strings of characters. By using a password manager, users only need to remember one master password to access all of their stored passwords.
The analysis revealed that despite repeated warnings about the importance of strong passwords, many people continue to use weak and easily guessable passwords. This puts them at risk of falling victim to hacking and identity theft, as cybercriminals can easily exploit these vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to personal and sensitive information. It is crucial for users to prioritize password security and take proactive measures to protect their online accounts from cyber threats.
In conclusion, the NordPass analysis highlighted the widespread issue of weak passwords being used by individuals worldwide. The report emphasized the need for stronger password practices, including creating unique and complex passwords for each account, avoiding common words and patterns, and utilizing password managers for added security. By following these tips and staying vigilant about password security, users can help reduce the risk of getting hacked and protect their online identities and personal information from cyber threats.
