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Too many people still use terrible passwords
The fifth annual SplashData chart of the internet's worst passwords is out, and it looks like people just can't learn the lesson. The firm has aggregated the passwords from around two million that were leaked in 2015, finding that basic, easy-to-guess terms are still in abundance. The most popular code behind which people store their valuables is "123456," with "password" sitting comfortably in second place. Places three and four are similarly guessable, with "12345678" and "qwerty" being the... look, guys, just no, please stop doing this.
Is your password on this list of 2014's worst passwords?
No matter how many times digital security experts exhort the public to use strong passwords, there are a surprising number of people who use passwords that are very easy to guess. For some reason, these are usually the same people who are shocked when someone breaks into their computer system and steals credit card or banking information. Well SplashData has published their list of the worst passwords on the internet, compiled from more than 3 million leaked passwords from 2014. If your password is on this list, shame on you. Please consider using something like 1Password to create strong passwords and remember them for you. The envelope, please... The worst passwords of 2014 are: 123456 password 12345 12345678 qwerty 123456789 1234 baseball dragon football 1234567 monkey letmein abc123 111111 mustang access shadow master michael superman 696969 123123 batman trustno1
Please don't use these passwords. Sincerely, the internet
You may have protected your personal data with strong passwords, but when hackers seize control of other computers, the resulting "botnets" can cause plenty of collateral damage. The depressing part is that one of the biggest holes is the easiest to fix: terrible passwords. SplashData has just released its annual list of the worst ones (gleaned from hacked file dumps), and things haven't changed much over last year. The most common stolen password is still "123456," which edged out perennial groaner "password." Other top picks in the alphanumeric hall of shame are "12345678," "qwerty," "monkey" and new this year, "batman." According to security expert Mark Burnett, the top 25 (below) represent an eye-popping 2.2 percent of all passwords exposed.
Daily Update for January 20, 2014
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