World’s Worst Passwords: Did Yours Make the List?

Password 123456

If you think using the word “password” for your actual password is clever, you’re wrong. Using “123456” is even worse.

That’s according to a list of the top 25 worst passwords from SplashData, a password management service. “123456” and “password” have the dubious distinction of topping the annual list as the two worst passwords since the list was first started in 2011.

SplashData used more than 3.3 million leaked passwords in 2014 to create its “worst of” list.

Although the lack of imagination in selecting “password” or “123456” (or even “qwerty”) for a password is almost laughable, it’s actually a serious issue. Selecting a good password is an important (and easy) way to help protect you from hackers and identity thieves.

“Passwords based on simple patterns on your keyboard remain popular despite how weak they are,” said Morgan Slain, CEO of SplashData. “Any password using numbers alone should be avoided, especially sequences. As more websites require stronger passwords or combinations of letters and numbers, longer keyboard patterns are becoming common passwords, and they are still not secure.”

The top 10 worst passwords, according to SplashData, are:

1. 123456
2. password
3. 12345
4. 12345678
5. qwerty
6. 123456789
7. 1234
8. baseball
9. dragon
10. football

Click here to see the rest of the top 25 list.

SplashData said there are two simple rules to creating a good password:

• Use eight characters or more, including numbers and letters, as well as mixed capitalization.
• Don’t use the same username and password combo for more than one website.

I can usually think of decent passwords. My issue is remembering them. Sigh.

Source: http://www.moneytalksnews.com/worlds-worst-passwords-did-yours-make-the-list/