Most people realize the importance of keeping password private. However, we often choose passwords that are too simple—easy to guess and vulnerable to hackers. The consequences of this are well known. Choosing a strong, hard-to-guess password is a habit everyone should practice, especially as our digital lives become more and more complex. Unfortunately, many people still fall into the bad habit of choosing passwords that are easy to guess. Now to remind netizens to choose strong passwords, NordPass once again released the list 200 most common passwords found on the internet in 2024.
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Here are the most commonly used passwords:
- 123456
- 123456789
- 12345678
- Password
- Qwerty123
- Qwerty1
- 111111
- 12345
- Secret
- 123123
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NordPass also compiles a list of the most common corporate passwords—passwords commonly used in work environments. The results highlight that poor password habits are also an integral part of professional sectors.
Worst business passwords
- 123456
- 123456789
- 12345678
- secret
- password
- qwerty123
- qwerty1
- 111111
- 123123
- 1234567890
What’s alarming is that NordPass published this list six times, with “123456” appearing as the most popular password five times.
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Personal and business passwords: Similarities
What’s interesting is that the 10 most common passwords in the personal and business lists are almost identical. This shows that many people use the same weak passwords for both personal and work accounts, leaving them vulnerable to attacks.
Despite repeated warnings, people’s password habits have not improved much over the years. If you live a digital life, it’s important to use strong passwords to protect your data—and more importantly, your privacy. Data is one of the most valuable commodities online, and if compromised, it can lead to significant financial and personal loss.
Tips for stronger passwords
Use a passcode: Code are becoming increasingly popular and many services (like Google) support them. Passcode uses your biometric data to log you in, eliminating the need to remember or store passwords. Passwords are stored securely and can only be accessed by you.
Choose a strong password: If you can’t come up with a strong password yourself, use a service like Apple’s password manager or Google’s password manager to create secure passwords. As a general rule, your password should be around 20 characters, including upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable information like date of birth or name.
Change your password regularly: Passwords can be exposed during data breaches, so it is important to change passwords regularly. Avoid reusing old passwords and make sure your new password is strong and unique.
Use a Password Manager: Consider using a password manager like NordPass to securely store and manage your passwords. If you don’t want to pay for one, you can use free options like Apple Password app or Google password manager.
