Computer passwords. Some are good...and some are just plain bad.
From a security standpoint, having one that is difficult to crack can ultimately spare you the trouble of your e-mail account sending SPAM to all your friends...or the bigger nightmare of reclaiming your identity.
SplashData has come out with it's annual list of "worst passwords"...and, hopefully, yours isn't on it.
Their list was developed from files of stolen passwords posted online by hackers...so the credibility factor here is actually pretty good.
So on to the list.
The #1 worst password is...drum roll..."password".
Believe it or not, some actually use "password" as a password...and hackers know that. Hence it's placement at the top of the heap.
Working down the line..."123456", "12345678", "abc123" and "qwerty" round out the top five.
“At this time of year, people enjoy focusing on scary costumes, movies and decorations, but those who have been through it can tell you how terrifying it is to have your identity stolen because of a hacked password,” Morgan Slain, SplashData CEO, said in a statement.
“We’re hoping that with more publicity about how risky it is to use weak passwords, more people will start taking simple steps to protect themselves by using stronger passwords and using different passwords for different websites.”
Two newcomers to this year's list are "jesus" and "ninja".
Come on, admit it. You have used or ARE using one of the passwords on this list. How often do you change your passwords? And do you follow the "upper case", "lower case", "numbers and symbols" suggestions from the experts???
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