Hacking into your personal data has become far too easy with many Britons opting for embarrassingly weak passwords. A recent study from NordPass reveals that "admin" and "123456" are the most frequently used passwords, leaving users vulnerable to cyber attacks.
The top 20 most commonly used passwords have been made public, showcasing a worrying trend of people relying on easy-to-guess combinations. The most popular password, "admin", is also one of the easiest for hackers to crack using simple dictionary attacks.
Experts warn that this is not just an issue in the UK but also affects Australians, Americans, and Germans. "Despite all efforts in cybersecurity education and digital awareness over the years, data reveals only minor improvements in password hygiene," says Karolis Arbaciauskas of NordPass.
The problem with weak passwords is that they can be cracked or guessed quickly, putting users' identities at risk. Moreover, many people reuse their passwords across multiple accounts, creating a perfect storm for hackers to exploit.
To protect yourself, it's essential to create unique and strong passwords. This could mean combining three random words or mixing numbers, letters, and special characters. Reusing the same password is never acceptable, as hackers can easily use compromised credentials to access other accounts.
Experts recommend using password managers, such as Apple's iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager, which can generate and save complicated passwords. Two-factor authentication (2FA) also provides an extra layer of security, requiring users to provide something they can only access themselves, like a code sent via text message.
Don't be caught out – take action now to secure your online accounts with strong, unique passwords and stay one step ahead of the hackers.
The top 20 most commonly used passwords have been made public, showcasing a worrying trend of people relying on easy-to-guess combinations. The most popular password, "admin", is also one of the easiest for hackers to crack using simple dictionary attacks.
Experts warn that this is not just an issue in the UK but also affects Australians, Americans, and Germans. "Despite all efforts in cybersecurity education and digital awareness over the years, data reveals only minor improvements in password hygiene," says Karolis Arbaciauskas of NordPass.
The problem with weak passwords is that they can be cracked or guessed quickly, putting users' identities at risk. Moreover, many people reuse their passwords across multiple accounts, creating a perfect storm for hackers to exploit.
To protect yourself, it's essential to create unique and strong passwords. This could mean combining three random words or mixing numbers, letters, and special characters. Reusing the same password is never acceptable, as hackers can easily use compromised credentials to access other accounts.
Experts recommend using password managers, such as Apple's iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager, which can generate and save complicated passwords. Two-factor authentication (2FA) also provides an extra layer of security, requiring users to provide something they can only access themselves, like a code sent via text message.
Don't be caught out – take action now to secure your online accounts with strong, unique passwords and stay one step ahead of the hackers.
. The thing is, people still not learning from history, always using weak password like "admin" or "123456". It's like they think hacker gonna magically know their password 
. Anyway, it's so easy for hackers to crack these passwords now, and it's just a matter of time before someone gets caught out. And yeah, reusing the same password is like asking to be hacked 
. We need to get with the times and start using strong, unique passwords or else we'll all be in trouble 
. Using password manager and 2FA is the way to go, it's not that hard to set up 
.
i need to get on that ASAP and create some strong new passwords, maybe something like "giraffes#likestrongpasswords 
" anyone else having this problem? 
. I mean, come on people, use some common sense (or should I say, uncommon passwords?) and create something a bit more... secure 
?
. i cant believe ppl still use these after all the cybersecurity awareness campaigns 
. if u dont take care of ur online security, hackers will take advantage of u and it can lead 2 serious identity theft issues 
. u can use password managers like icloud keychain or google password manager to generate & save complicated passwords 
.
. take control of ur online security now & stay one step ahead of the hackers 
! i mean, who uses "admin" as a password? that's like inviting hackers to the party for free 
. and "123456", wow, that's just basic math 
. seriously though, folks need to step up their password game - it's not rocket science, just be clever 
. and don't even get me started on reusing passwords, that's like playing a game of cyber chicken 
. create unique passwords, use a password manager, 2FA... the works 
.
! I mean, who uses "admin" as their password?! 
It's like they're begging for hackers to find them. And don't even get me started on "123456"... that's just lazy 
. Anyways, I think it's super important to start using unique and strong passwords ASAP. Like, I know it's hard to remember all those random characters, but it's so worth it 
. I mean, who needs to memorize all their passwords when you can just have one of those fancy password managers do it for you? 
- anyone can walk in! 
I mean, come on, folks, use a password manager or just take 2 mins to create a decent combo 
I mean, come on guys! We're living in 2025 and this is still our biggest security risk? It's like we're not even trying 
.
. It's like they say: "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" 
So we should be worried, right? I mean, think about all the accounts you've got online - email, social media, banking... and if one of them gets hacked, your whole identity is at risk.
anyway, the thing is, it's not just about using strong passwords (although, let's be real, who wants to do that? 
), it's also about not reusing them everywhere. i mean, if you use "password123" on every single account, and your email or bank info gets hacked, you're done 
. We need to step up our password game and start using password managers and 2FA like they're going out of style 
! I've got friends who still use those, and it's only a matter of time before they get hacked 
.
I remember my sis used that exact same password back in uni and we were all like "seriously?!?" 
. but honestly, i got burnt by weak passwords too, like 2 yrs ago my email got hacked bc i used a password that was only 5 characters long 