Are You Putting Your Accounts at Risk?
In last month’s newsletter, we discussed upcoming changes to password requirements aimed at enhancing security. As we noted, complexity alone doesn’t guarantee safety. While these changes are still in draft form and most service providers haven’t implemented them yet, the responsibility for securing your accounts ultimately lies with you. Whether or not a provider enforces strict rules, you should take precautions like enabling multifactor authentication (MFA) and using strong, unique passwords.
What Makes a Password Bad?
A bad password is one that’s easy to guess or widely used. Even if you think your password is unique, it may not be. Many people unknowingly use the same weak passwords, making their accounts vulnerable to hackers.
A recently released study highlights the 200 most common passwords in 2024. These passwords, often cracked in less than a second, underscore the importance of choosing stronger alternatives. If you’re using a password that appears on this list—or even resembles one of them—it’s time to change it immediately.
Sample of Common Passwords to Avoid
Here are 20 of the most frequently used passwords. Each can be broken in less than a second by basic password-cracking tools:
- secret
- 123456
- password
- qwerty123
- qwerty1
- 123456789
- password1
- 12345678
- 12345
- abc123
- qwerty
- iloveyou
- Password
- baseball
- 1234567
- 111111
- princess
- football
- monkey
- sunshine
These examples show how easy it is for attackers to exploit weak passwords.
How to Secure Your Accounts
To keep your accounts safe, follow these best practices:
- Use Unique Passwords: Avoid reusing passwords across multiple accounts. A single breach can compromise all of them.
- Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA): Add an extra layer of security to prevent unauthorized access.
- Create Strong Passwords: Use a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters. Aim for at least 12 characters.
- Use Pegasus Vault: If remembering all your unique passwords feels overwhelming, consider using Pegasus Vault to securely store and manage them.
Stay Informed About Password Safety
At Pegasus Technologies, we’re here to help you stay ahead of evolving cybersecurity threats. If you’re curious about the full list of the 200 most common passwords or want to ensure your team’s accounts are secure, reach out to us today. Protecting your accounts starts with making smart password choices.
Don’t let a weak password be the reason your data is compromised. Take action now to safeguard your accounts and improve your overall security.
