Is it time to change YOUR login details?

23.01.2015 11:30

With so many passwords to remember for everything from checking emails to unlocking your phone, it may seem tempting to use an obvious and unforgettable security word or phrase.

And if you're guilty of doing this, you're not alone.

A report has revealed that ‘123456’ was the most popular credential last year, followed by ‘password.’

The most used passwords of last year were also the most insecure, causing security experts to urge users to pick less obvious login details to keep their information safe.

The remaining top five most popular passwords were ‘12345’, ‘12345678’ and ‘qwerty’ according to SplashData, which develops password management software.

The company, which is based in Los Gatos, California, analysed files containing millions of stolen passwords posted online during the previous year.

As well as lazy number and letter combinations that can be entered with a swipe of the thumb, it also noticed ‘easily guessable’ passwords such as 'letmein,' ‘football’ and ‘batman’ were included in its top 25 worst pins.

New additions to the top 25 include: 'baseball', 'dragon', 'football', 'mustang', 'access', 'master', 'michael', 'superman', '696969' and 'batman'.

Also in the top 100 are swear words and phrases, hobbies, famous athletes, car brands, and film names.

The firm has advised anyone using any of these top 25 words to change their password to something more secure immediately, because common passwords are easiest for cybercriminals to guess.

Basic combinations make users vulnerable to having accounts such as email and online banking hijacked and their identities stolen.

'Passwords based on simple patterns on your keyboard remain popular despite how weak they are,' said Morgan Slain, chief executive of SplashData.

'Any password using numbers alone should be avoided, especially sequences.

'As more websites require stronger passwords or combinations of letters and numbers, longer keyboard patterns are becoming common passwords, and they are still not secure.'

Sensitive data such as passwords are often posted online by hackers who steal them during attacks on websites and corporate networks.

This year, most of the passwords used to compile the list came from users in North America and Western Europe.

In order to minimise the chances of being hacked, SplashData has advised people to avoid using keyboard patterns like 'qwertyuiop' from the top row of letters on the keyboard.

It also suggested that people don’t use their favourite sport as a password.

‘Baseball’ and ‘football’ were both in the top 10, while ‘hockey,’ ‘soccer,’ and ‘golf’ made the top 100.

Birthdays are also a bad idea, and it seems that people in their early 20's are particularly keen on using their year of birth as a password, because the years 1989 to 1992 all in the top 100.

Similarly, names such as Michael, Jennifer, Thomas, Jordan, Hunter, Michelle, Charlie, Andrew and Daniel were all in the Top 50.

(dailystar.co.uk)

ANN.Az

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