'Password' loses top spot as worst password of 2013
SplashData's list of the worst, most hackable passwords of 2013 reveals that despite the warnings and high-profile security breaches at major companies such as Adobe, folks are still using the same bad, hackable passwords to protect their accounts.
In 2013, "123456" unseated "password" as the worst password of 2013, proving that sometimes life is like a Mel Brooks comedy (hat tip RE/code). This was the first time since SplashData began compiling its annual list that "password" lost its No. 1 spot.
"12345678" was third, followed by "qwerty" and "abc123." SplashData's top 25 list was compiled from files containing millions of stolen passwords posted online in 2013, according to the company.
The 2013 list, which included new words "adobe123" and "photoshop," was influenced by the large number of passwords from Adobe users posted online by security consulting firm Stricture Consulting Group following the company's security breach, according to SplashData.
"Seeing passwords like 'adobe123' and 'photoshop' on this list offers a good reminder not to base your password on the name of the website or application you are accessing," SplashData CEO Morgan Slain said in a statement.
The Top 25
- 123456
- password
- 12345678
- qwerty
- abc123
- 123456789 (new)
- 111111
- 1234567
- iloveyou
- adobe123 (new)
- 123123
- admin (new)
- 1234567890 (new)
- letmein
- photoshop (new)
- 1234 (new)
- monkey
- shadow
- sunshine
- 12345 (new)
- password1
- princess (new)
- azerty (new)
- trustno1
- 000000 (new)
SplashData offers a few tips to avoid picking bad passwords, including using words of eight characters or more with mixed types of characters. The company also suggests using random phrases such as "cakes years birthday" or "smiles_light_skip?"
SplashData says avoid using the same username and password combination for multiple websites. Of course, that means most folks need a dozen different passwords to gain access to their social networks, bank account and entertainment sites.
Not sure where to start? SmartPlanet has a guide on how to create an easy-to-remember and secure password.
Thumbnail photo: Flickr user Marc Falardeau
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com