What do “123456,” “qwerty123” and “secret” all have in common? If you guessed that they’re among the most frequently used passwords, you’d be correct, according to a survey by NordPass, a company that helps secure and manage passwords. The survey analyzed data from 44 countries.
With May 1 marking World Password Day, it’s the perfect reminder to rethink that combination of numbers, letters and symbols you use to keep your private information secure.
At a time when personal data is at its greatest risk, you’d think people and companies would put more effort into choosing stronger passwords. Yet many still take more care securing a gym locker than protecting their bank accounts.
We live in a world where nearly everything is password protected — from social media and email to medical records — yet people continue to use “111111”, “iloveyou” and the ever-popular “password” to safeguard their most sensitive data. Even worse, many use the same password across multiple accounts.
To create a strong password, experts suggest it should be at least 12 characters long with a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid common words, names, products or organizations and create new passwords for each account.
If you can’t keep track of all your passwords, consider using a password manager and enabling two-factor authentication whenever possible. While no system is foolproof, a strong password can help keep hackers from logging in.
Visit nordpass.com