Over the last few years, the security industry has been harping on the strength of user passwords. How many times have you tried to set a password just to find out that it is missing a specific requirement, such as a capital letter, a number, or specific symbol? It’s understandable why many of us would want to create a simple password. They’re easy to remember and with so many online accounts that require passwords, the temptation to create easy passwords or reuse passwords across accounts is high. The problem with doing so, however, is if your password is easy for you to remember, chances are it will be easy for hackers to crack.
Despite the risk of a security breach however, many people still opt to use easy-to-hack passwords. SplashData a cybersecurity software company, just released its list of the top 100 worst passwords of 2019.
Here are the top 10 worst passwords of 2019:
10.123123
9. 111111
8. iloveyou
7. 12345
6. 12345678
5. 1234567
4. password
3. qwerty
2. 123456789
1. 123456
Based on the simplicity of these passwords, it’s clear as to why they’ve been rated the top 10 worst passwords of 2019. None of them require much thought or effort to guess. Proper use of passwords is one of the critical steps to take to avoid becoming a victim of cybercrime.
There are really three basic rules to follow when it comes to password management:
- Use strong passwords that do not contain any personal details (no names of pets or children for example) and are not based on one dictionary word
- Use different passwords for any web site that holds your sensitive information
- Password length is the best way to ensure that your information remain secure. The longer the password, the more secure it is.
Nowadays a strong password tends to be 10-16 characters, and contain a combination of numbers, symbols, uppercase and lowercase letters. Consider using a phrase for your password, such as a line from your favorite song or movie. You can use symbols, numbers, and letters throughout the password to create complexity. There are websites that users can input a password to see if it has been part of a breach and if so, how many different times it was caught in use.
These requirements can make it extremely difficult to remember your passwords for all your different accounts. Luckily, there are tools that can help you manage your passwords and keep your information secure. Password management tools such as LastPass, Dashlane or 1Password are all tools that can help you keep track of your passwords while making sure your information is secure.
Now is a great time to get more secure. If you have any questions on what your business needs to do to improve your security posture, contact our security experts for help.
