Passwords are the keys to our digital lives and they protect our personal information and secure our online accounts. However, many people use weak and predictable passwords that are easy to guess or crack. Almost four decades since the advent of the internet, you’ll be surprised that people still choose convenience over security.
According to a study by NordPass, the most commonly used passwords include “123456”, “123456789”, “qwerty”, “password”, and “111111”. These passwords are not only easy to remember but also easy to hack, leaving your personal data vulnerable to cybercriminals.
Back in 2015, the list of the common and worst passwords included 123456 and password. Years later, these same passwords are still at the top of the list of the commonly used passwords. Such passwords do nothing to deter a hacker from taking control of your email account.
What Passwords Should You Avoid in 2023
From the list, it is clear that as a general rule, you should avoid using: –
1. Pure numbers only, especially numbers in sequence such as 123456 and 456789. Other recurrent numbers-only passwords that feature on this list are those that repeat the same number, such as 11111111 and 555555, as well as number patterns like 123123 and 101010.
2. Words found in the dictionary.
3. Common names of people. For instance, Michael and Ashley.
4. Variations of the word password like password1, password123. Even when used in combination with numbers, they are still just a terrible idea.
5. Pet names (terms of endearment) such as sunshine and princess.
6. Passwords generated from characters that are adjacent to each other on the keyboard such as qwerty. 1qaz2wsx seems like a complex password, but it is actually a cluster of keys on the left-hand side of the keyboard.
7. Also, avoid using swear words.
8. Another interesting thing to note from this list is that all passwords appearing on this list lack a special character.
Passwords with the characteristics described above are the most vulnerable. The majority would take less than a second to decipher using either dictionary attacks, brute-force attacks, or simple human guesswork.
How to Create a Strong Password
Email compromise is on the rise every day with hackers armed with new, advanced, and more sophisticated techniques to penetrate systems via email. As such, the importance of having a strong password as the first step cannot be overstated.
If you have any of the above passwords, we would definitely recommend changing them. However, if you do not necessarily want to discard your password altogether, consider ways to strengthen it by doing the following:
1. First, strengthen your password by adding a combination of upper and lower case letters.
2. Second, add special characters to your password.
3. Third, make your password longer – preferably over 10 characters. And no, even though it has 10 characters, 1234567890 doesn’t qualify. In addition to being long, your password should have a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols.
If your email account has already been hacked, read our guide on what to do if your email has been compromised. While vendors need to be reminded that allowing users to create easy and simple passwords on their platforms does nothing to protect the privacy and security of users, it is also up to us to take responsibility for our own accounts. See more tips on how to create stronger passwords.
Top 200 common passwordS used today
If your password is on this list, you need to change it!
Source: NordPass
No. | Password | No. of users | No. of times exposed | Time to crack it | |
1 | 123456 | 2,543,285 | 23,597,311 | Less than a second | |
2 | 123456789 | 961,435 | 7,870,694 | Less than a second | |
3 | picture1 | 371,612 | 11,190 | 3 hours | |
4 | password | 360,467 | 3,759,315 | Less than a second | |
5 | 12345678 | 322,187 | 2,944,615 | Less than a second | |
6 | 111111 | 230,507 | 3,124,368 | Less than a second | |
7 | 123123 | 189,327 | 2,238,694 | Less than a second | |
8 | 12345 | 188,268 | 2,389,787 | Less than a second | |
9 | 1234567890 | 171,724 | 2,264,884 | Less than a second | |
10 | senha | 167,728 | 8,213 | 10 seconds | |
11 | 1234567 | 165,909 | 2,516,606 | Less than a second | |
12 | qwerty | 156,765 | 3,946,737 | Less than a second | |
13 | abc123 | 151,804 | 2,877,689 | Less than a second | |
14 | Million2 | 143,664 | 162,609 | 3 hours | |
15 | 000000 | 122,982 | 1,959,780 | Less than a second | |
16 | 1234 | 112,297 | 1,296,186 | Less than a second | |
17 | iloveyou | 106,327 | 1,645,337 | Less than a second | |
18 | aaron431 | 90,256 | 30,576 | 3 hours | |
19 | password1 | 87,556 | 2,418,984 | Less than a second | |
20 | qqww1122 | 85,476 | 122,481 | 52 minutes | |
21 | 123 | 84,438 | 1,042,952 | Less than a second | |
22 | omgpop | 77,492 | 334 | 2 minutes | |
23 | 123321 | 73,506 | 928,060 | Less than a second | |
24 | 654321 | 69,148 | 953,549 | Less than a second | |
25 | qwertyuiop | 64,632 | 1,108,463 | Less than a second | |
26 | qwer123456 | 58,096 | 5,339 | 4 seconds | |
27 | 123456a | 57,472 | 980,190 | Less than a second | |
28 | a123456 | 55,548 | 684,476 | Less than a second | |
29 | 666666 | 53,146 | 889,482 | Less than a second | |
30 | asdfghjkl | 52,961 | 547,528 | Less than a second | |
31 | ashley | 52,031 | 440,413 | 2 minutes | |
32 | 987654321 | 50,097 | 599,177 | Less than a second | |
33 | unknown | 47,995 | 28,930 | 17 minutes | |
34 | zxcvbnm | 46,952 | 592,416 | Less than a second | |
35 | 112233 | 46,450 | 543,303 | Less than a second | |
36 | chatbooks | 45,883 | 0 | 1 day | |
37 | 20100728 | 44,914 | 3,468 | Less than a second | |
38 | 123123123 | 42,781 | 505,507 | Less than a second | |
39 | princess | 42,230 | 489,024 | Less than a second | |
40 | jacket025 | 41,909 | 44,594 | 8 hours | |
41 | evite | 41,720 | 14,941 | 10 seconds | |
42 | 123abc | 40,431 | 648,551 | Less than a second | |
43 | 123qwe | 40,203 | 726,928 | Less than a second | |
44 | sunshine | 39,456 | 418,052 | Less than a second | |
45 | 121212 | 39,342 | 741,345 | Less than a second | |
46 | dragon | 39,011 | 984,209 | Less than a second | |
47 | 1q2w3e4r | 38,865 | 658,945 | Less than a second | |
48 | 5201314 | 38,307 | 236,311 | 26 seconds | |
49 | 159753 | 38,028 | 442,018 | Less than a second | |
50 | 123456789 | 37,280 | 7,870,694 | Less than a second | |
51 | pokemon | 37,197 | 242,154 | Less than a second | |
52 | qwerty123 | 35,827 | 624,152 | Less than a second | |
53 | Bangbang123 | 35,545 | 40 | 2 days | |
54 | jobandtalent | 34,512 | 5 | 3 years | |
55 | monkey | 34,124 | 992,381 | Less than a second | |
56 | 1qaz2wsx | 33,819 | 775,475 | Less than a second | |
57 | abcd1234 | 33,179 | 358,842 | Less than a second | |
58 | default | 32,486 | 15,108 | 3 minutes | |
59 | aaaaaa | 31,939 | 401,780 | Less than a second | |
60 | soccer | 31,805 | 314,004 | Less than a second | |
61 | 123654 | 31,649 | 369,852 | Less than a second | |
62 | ohmnamah23 | 31,288 | 33,523 | 12 Days | |
63 | 12345678910 | 31,097 | 167,550 | Less than a second | |
64 | zing | 30,979 | 486 | 1 second | |
65 | shadow | 30,751 | 348,409 | Less than a second | |
66 | 102030 | 30,664 | 237,904 | Less than a second | |
67 | 11111111 | 30,336 | 30,336 | Less than a second | |
68 | asdfgh | 30,281 | 373,547 | Less than a second | |
69 | 147258369 | 29,432 | 242,324 | Less than a second | |
70 | qazwsx | 29,192 | 510,424 | Less than a second | |
71 | qwe123 | 28,926 | 642,523 | Less than a second | |
72 | michael | 28,754 | 434,784 | 8 seconds | |
73 | football | 28,496 | 434,784 | Less than a second | |
74 | baseball | 28,278 | 326,058 | Less than a second | |
75 | 1q2w3e4r5t | 28,092 | 1,199,289 | Less than a second | |
76 | party | 27,907 | 21,993 | 10 seconds | |
77 | daniel | 27,076 | 376,065 | 5 seconds | |
78 | asdasd | 26,837 | 281,210 | Less than a second | |
79 | 222222 | 26,836 | 584,874 | Less than a second | |
80 | myspace1 | 26,363 | 737,761 | 3 hours | |
81 | asd123 | 26,310 | 316,743 | Less than a second | |
82 | 555555 | 26,187 | 558,726 | Less than a second | |
83 | a123456789 | 26,051 | 167,344 | Less than a second | |
84 | 888888 | 25,736 | 347,798 | Less than a second | |
85 | 7777777 | 25,634 | 633,437 | Less than a second | |
86 | fuckyou | 25,618 | 557,507 | Less than a second | |
87 | 1234qwer | 25,598 | 419,377 | Less than a second | |
88 | superman | 25,557 | 343,392 | Less than a second | |
89 | 147258 | 24,643 | 207,272 | Less than a second | |
90 | 999999 | 24,534 | 360,129 | Less than a second | |
91 | 159357 | 24,359 | 244,867 | Less than a second | |
92 | love123 | 23,758 | 336,212 | Less than a second | |
93 | tigger | 23,706 | 249,469 | Less than a second | |
94 | purple | 23,214 | 231,133 | Less than a second | |
95 | samantha | 23,168 | 218,728 | Less than a second | |
96 | charlie | 23,157 | 315,953 | Less than a second | |
97 | babygirl | 23,139 | 244,615 | Less than a second | |
98 | 88888888 | 22,984 | 304,420 | Less than a second | |
99 | jordan23 | 22,711 | 333,759 | Less than a second | |
100 | 789456123 | 22,592 | 389,398 | Less than a second | |
101 | jordan | 22,449 | 305,014 | Less than a second | |
102 | anhyeuem | 22,265 | 47,486 | Less than a second | |
103 | killer | 22,242 | 322,975 | Less than a second | |
104 | basketball | 22,060 | 224,737 | 10 seconds | |
105 | michelle | 22,012 | 285,542 | 3 hours | |
106 | 1q2w3e | 21,906 | 513,929 | Less than a second | |
107 | lol123 | 21,881 | 188,087 | Less than a second | |
108 | qwerty1 | 21,610 | 586,071 | Less than a second | |
109 | 789456 | 21,589 | 293,902 | Less than a second | |
110 | 6655321 | 21,575 | 23,705 | 9 seconds | |
111 | nicole | 21,483 | 284,519 | 2 minutes | |
112 | naruto | 21,458 | 250,894 | Less than a second | |
113 | master | 21,445 | 318,868 | Less than a second | |
114 | chocolate | 21,409 | 216,898 | 3 seconds | |
115 | maggie | 21,366 | 214,719 | Less than a second | |
116 | computer | 21,330 | 487,519 | Less than a second | |
117 | hannah | 21,277 | 224,785 | Less than a second | |
118 | jessica | 21,166 | 330,185 | 7 seconds | |
119 | 123456789a | 21,110 | 320,341 | Less than a second | |
120 | password123 | 20,835 | 123,063 | Less than a second | |
121 | hunter | 20,815 | 249,360 | Less than a second | |
122 | 686584 | 20,664 | 34 | 43 Seconds | |
123 | iloveyou1 | 20,332 | 399,592 | 1 Second | |
124 | 987654321 | 20,157 | 599,177 | Less than a second | |
125 | justin | 20,151 | 262,185 | 2 Minutes | |
126 | cookie | 20,065 | 193,597 | Less than a second | |
127 | hello | 19,998 | 255,676 | Less than a second | |
128 | blink182 | 19,956 | 295,502 | Less than a second | |
129 | andrew | 19,905 | 268,415 | 2 Minutes | |
130 | 25251325 | 19,744 | 25,524 | 7 Minutes | |
131 | love | 19,723 | 349,712 | Less than a second | |
132 | 987654 | 19,544 | 274,671 | Less than a second | |
133 | bailey | 19,350 | 168,117 | 2 Minutes | |
134 | princess1 | 19,344 | 365,618 | 1 Second | |
135 | 123456 | 19,190 | 23,597,311 | Less than a second | |
136 | 101010 | 19,133 | 241,446 | Less than a second | |
137 | 12341234 | 19,109 | 202,305 | Less than a second | |
138 | a801016 | 19,040 | 25,156 | 33 Seconds | |
139 | 1111 | 19,008 | 253,728 | Less than a second | |
140 | 1111111 | 18,905 | 254,685 | Less than a second | |
141 | anthony | 18,812 | 264,517 | 17 Minutes | |
142 | yugioh | 18,792 | 40,030 | 2 Minutes | |
143 | fuckyou1 | 18,739 | 390,506 | Less than a second | |
144 | amanda | 18,705 | 218,518 | 2 Minutes | |
145 | asdf1234 | 18,698 | 215,813 | Less than a second | |
146 | trustno1 | 18,651 | 228,101 | Less than a second | |
147 | butterfly | 18,273 | 207,325 | Less than a second | |
148 | x4ivygA51F | 18,267 | 41,860 | 12 Days | |
149 | iloveu | 18,188 | 222,280 | Less than a second | |
150 | batman | 18,161 | 208,555 | Less than a second | |
151 | starwars | 18,159 | 180,216 | Less than a second | |
152 | summer | 18,026 | 216,978 | Less than a second | |
153 | michael1 | 18,026 | 300,551 | Less than a second | |
154 | 00000000 | 17,978 | 198,003 | Less than a second | |
155 | lovely | 17,964 | 271,829 | Less than a second | |
156 | jakcgt333 | 17,935 | 18,649 | 3 Hours | |
157 | buster | 17,929 | 227,120 | Less than a second | |
158 | jennifer | 17,846 | 251,750 | 2 Hours | |
159 | babygirl1 | 17,805 | 290,516 | 2 Seconds | |
160 | family | 17,706 | 196,605 | 2 Minutes | |
161 | 456789 | 17,626 | 162,868 | Less than a second | |
162 | azerty | 17,541 | 315,309 | Less than a second | |
163 | andrea | 17,485 | 225,646 | 2 Minutes | |
164 | q1w2e3r4 | 17,433 | 289,649 | Less than a second | |
165 | qwer1234 | 17,400 | 291,618 | Less than a second | |
166 | hello123 | 17,363 | 188,975 | Less than a second | |
167 | 10203 | 17,286 | 18,344 | Less than a second | |
168 | matthew | 17,053 | 227,357 | 17 Minutes | |
169 | pepper | 17,031 | 198,043 | Less than a second | |
170 | 12345a | 16,983 | 452,079 | Less than a second | |
171 | letmein | 16,951 | 214,700 | Less than a second | |
172 | joshua | 16,939 | 264,829 | 2 Minutes | |
173 | 131313 | 16,919 | 275,113 | Less than a second | |
174 | 123456b | 16,814 | 1 Second | 98,329 | |
175 | madison | 16,770 | 146,287 | Less than a second | |
176 | Sample123 | 16,762 | 53,251 | 3 Hours | |
177 | 777777 | 16,679 | 370,253 | Less than a second | |
178 | football1 | 16,662 | 338,437 | Less than a second | |
179 | jesus1 | 16,619 | 296,697 | Less than a second | |
180 | taylor | 16,616 | 180,209 | 7 Seconds | |
181 | b123456 | 16,564 | 80,447 | 1 Second | |
182 | whatever | 16,506 | 196,208 | Less than a second | |
183 | welcome | 16,445 | 247,442 | Less than a second | |
184 | ginger | 16,372 | 185,999 | Less than a second | |
185 | flower | 16,342 | 215,178 | Less than a second | |
186 | 333333 | 16,335 | 284,278 | Less than a second | |
187 | 1111111111 | 16,334 | 225,649 | Less than a second | |
188 | robert | 16,302 | 238,806 | Less than a second | |
189 | samsung | 16,218 | 316,318 | Less than a second | |
190 | a12345 | 16,217 | 322,387 | Less than a second | |
191 | loveme | 16,134 | 234,552 | Less than a second | |
192 | gabriel | 16,029 | 151,973 | 5 Seconds | |
193 | alexander | 16,001 | 200,458 | 2 Seconds | |
194 | cheese | 15,994 | 169,915 | Less than a second | |
195 | passw0rd | 15,972 | 223,605 | Less than a second | |
196 | 142536 | 15,895 | 129,564 | Less than a second | |
197 | peanut | 15,832 | 163,861 | Less than a second | |
198 | 11223344 | 15,830 | 153,229 | Less than a second | |
199 | thomas | 15,817 | 290,204 | 8 seconds | |
200 | angel1 | 15,786 | 258,800 | Less than a second |
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