10 Passwords You Must Avoid (Part 4)

This is the final part of the password series.

Part 1 – 6 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Password

Part 2 – How to Make a Strong Password

Part 3 – How to Test and Protect Your Password

In spite of all the information available to computer users about the importance of having a secured password, a lot of of people still find themselves at risk to security attacks such as identity theft and fraud because they use names, dictionary words, slangs or flimsy passwords from a limited group of keyboard characters such as consecutive digits or adjacent keyboard keys.

A recent study by data security expert Imperva reveals that around 50% of people fall into the category described above whilst also using the same (or very similar) password for all their online accounts. The study also lists the 10 most commonly used passwords, which should be avoided by all means, as follows.

1. 123456
2. 12345
3. 123456789
4. Password
5. iloveyou
6. princess
7. rockyou
8. 1234567
9. 12345678
10. abc123

Although choosing the right password may seem like a difficult task, the fact that it is our personal information and security that is at stake means that we must take time out to do so and avoid falling victims of cyber attacks. This means that password security must be taken seriously and the right steps must be followed (as discussed in this series) to ensure our safety.

Talking Point

How long did it take you to come up with your most important password?