In a familiar tale of cybersecurity, the annual list of the most common passwords has been unveiled by NordPass, and to no one's surprise, favorites like "123456" and "password" continue to dominate. Despite repeated warnings from cybersecurity experts urging users to adopt stronger password practices, the lure of simplicity still prevails.
NordPass, in its fifth annual publication, examined a massive 4.3 terabytes of data related to cybersecurity incidents to compile the list of the top 200 most common passwords, revealing some persistent trends.
TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 13: An employee uses a laptop computer during a demonstration of the shared PC with face recognition technology, eliminating the need to input a password at the NEC Corporation headquarters on July 13, 2020, in Tokyo, Japan. NEC Corporation has transformed its Tokyo headquarters skyscraper into a smart building to showcase its "new normal" technologies and services to facilitate worker safety and organizational efficiency for the post-COVID-19 world
Most Common Passwords in 2023
Topping the list are the usual suspects:
1. 123456
2. admin
3. 12345678
4. 123456789
5. 1234
6. 12345
7. password
8. 123
9. Aa123456
10. 1234567890
11. UNKNOWN
12.1234567
13.123123
14. 111111
15. Password
16. 12345678910
17. 000000
18. admin123
19. ********
20. user
See the full list here.
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Alarming But Unsurprising
Alarming but unsurprisingly, NordPass found that all these passwords could be cracked in less than a second, emphasizing the urgent need for users to prioritize stronger and more unique combinations.
NordPass provided insights into its findings, stating that for five years, they have been tracking password habits, and observing recurring patterns. This year, they note an extra layer to the story, pointing to emerging trends and potential shifts in passkey authentication methods.
The report invites users to explore the future of passkeys amid ongoing discussions about improving user authentication.
NordPass clarified its methodology, emphasizing its commitment to privacy. The list was compiled in collaboration with independent researchers specializing in cybersecurity incidents.
The data, extracted from various sources, including the dark web, totaled 4.3TB, with no acquisition of personal data by NordPass. The study included statistical information from researchers in up to 35 countries, focusing on eight types of platform categories.
The report sheds light on the persistent challenges associated with passwords, emphasizing that while technological advancements make passwords harder to breach, malware attacks remain a significant threat to account security.
The statistics paint a stark picture, with 86% of all web app attacks utilizing stolen credentials, 18% of the most common items on the dark web being online accounts, emails, and passwords, and a staggering 24 billion credentials breached since 2016.
As users grapple with password fatigue, the need for robust cybersecurity measures becomes increasingly evident. The report serves as a reminder that despite the familiarity of these warnings, the onus remains on individuals to adopt more secure and unique password practices to safeguard their digital identities.
So if your password is included on the list, you might want to rethink. Being original doesn't hurt especially if it's for your own privacy!
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