Cybernews
  • News
  • Editorial
  • Security
  • Privacy
    • What is a VPN?
    • What is malware?
    • How safe are password managers?
    • Are VPNs legal?
    • More resources
    • Strong password generator
    • Personal data leak checker
    • Antivirus software
    • Best VPN services
    • Password managers
    • Secure email providers
    • Best website builders
  • Follow
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Linkedin
    • Flipboard
    • Newsletter

© 2021 CyberNews - Latest tech news, product reviews, and analyses.

Our readers help us create quality content. If you purchase via links on our site, we may receive affiliate commissions. Learn more

Home » Security » Three-quarters of the most popular passwords can be cracked instantly

Three-quarters of the most popular passwords can be cracked instantly

by Chris Stokel-Walker
1 February 2021
in Security
3
My password on notebook

© Shutterstock

62
SHARES
Once again: make sure your passwords are secure.

We all know the importance of a secure, safe, uncrackable password to try and prevent falling victim to cybercrime. But what we know and what we do often differs wildly. The value of uncrackable passwords is of prime importance – not least because of how easy it is to break into accounts using some of the most popular passwords. 

Using the top 10 passwords of 2020, NordPass calculated how long it takes hackers to be able to guess the passwords – and the results are shocking.

In all, 73% of the world’s most popular passwords can be cracked in less than a second using brute force attacks, which pelt password boxes with endless numbers of guesses that run through a database of some of the most popularly-used passwords that have turned up in exposed databases of hacked websites.

“The lesson here is that millions of people still use generic and weak passwords and don’t hear the message that a strong password is one of the most important measures for those who want to be secure online,” says Chad Hammond, a security expert at NordPass.

Speed of hacking is increasing

Less than a second is an incredibly quick time to be able to access nearly three-quarters of all the world’s most popular passwords currently in use – but even more alarmingly, the proportion of passwords that can be cracked easily is increasing over time.

When NordPass looked at the most popular passwords of 2019, and calculated how long it takes the average cyber crook to crack them, it was three percentage points lower.

Breaking a simple seven-character password with no special symbols or uppercase letters can take as little as 0.29 seconds, says the company. Adding two or more characters extends the amount of time taken to crack the password up to something closer to five years.

The most popular passwords used are things like 123456, picture1, password and – curiously – senha. There was a time when the average person believed that simply swapping out a letter for a number, or vice versa, could be enough to confound the criminals. However, we now know that isn’t the case: hackers have cottoned on to the way we try to adapt our passwords, and have rainbow tables that rifle through potential passwords quickly.

What to do to secure your passwords

“We recommend that people use strong passwords that are lengthy and contain letters, numbers, and special characters. In addition, the passwords must be unique for every account. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to use multi-factor authentication to enhance your protection even further,” says Hammond.

Reusing and recycling passwords on different services and sites may seem like an easy temptation, especially if you’re utilising longer, more complicated and extensive passwords. But it can be a drawback, and can make you more vulnerable to prolonged hack attacks that leave all your accounts vulnerable if just one is cracked by a cybercriminal. “That’s why it’s so important to use unique passwords for all accounts. Unfortunately, according to our survey, 63% of people reuse their passwords,” says Hammond.

Try to steer away from using any identifying information in your password that is accessible on the open internet to anyone.

If you profess a love for a particular sports team on your social media profiles, or give away your birthday somewhere, hackers will hone in on that and assume – often correctly – that it’s included in your password.

Try to make sure you’re regularly thinking about your information security, and trying everything you can to make it as difficult as possible for hackers to ascertain information about you and your life. 

Share62TweetShareShare
Next Post
Elon Musk

Elon Musk says bitcoin "on the verge" of being more widely accepted

Comments 3
  1. Jessie says:
    2 weeks ago

    Senha is password in another language.

    Reply
    • jonathan says:
      1 week ago

      “senha” is password to portugues-br

      Reply
  2. Sheeren says:
    2 weeks ago

    Ok

    Reply
Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Editor's choice

COMb data leak - Mother of all breaches
News

COMB: largest breach of all time leaked online with 3.2 billion records

by Bernard Meyer
12 February 2021
37

It's being called the biggest breach of all time and the mother of all breaches: COMB, or the Compilation of...

Read more
14 million Amazon and eBay accounts sold online in new leak

14 million alleged Amazon and eBay account details sold online

17 February 2021
The hype around quantum computing: it’s not too early to get in

The hype around quantum computing: it’s not too early to get in

15 February 2021
Facebook phishing campaign that tricked nearly 450,000 users in Germany is now spreading in the UK

Facebook phishing campaign that tricked nearly 450,000 users in Germany is now spreading in the UK

15 February 2021
Cyberpunk 2077 maker CD Projekt Red has GWENT source code leaked after ransomware attack

Cyberpunk 2077 maker CD Projekt Red has GWENT source code leaked after ransomware attack

10 February 2021
  • Categories
    • News
    • Editorial
    • Security
    • Privacy
  • Reviews
    • Antivirus Software
    • Password Managers
    • Best VPN Services
    • Secure Email Providers
    • Website Builders
  • Tools
    • Password generator
    • Personal data leak checker
  • Engage
    • About Us
    • Send Us a Tip
    • Careers
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Linkedin
  • Flipboard
  • Newsletter
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Send Us a Tip
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Vulnerability Disclosure

© 2021 CyberNews - Latest tech news, product reviews, and analyses.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy Policy.

Home

News

Editorial

Security

Privacy

Resources

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Send Us a Tip

© 2020 CyberNews – Latest tech news, product reviews, and analyses.

Subscribe for Security Tips and CyberNews Updates
Email address is required. Provided email address is not valid. You have been successfully subscribed to our newsletter!