The Worst Passwords of 2014 [Chart]

SplashData has announced its annual list of the 25 most common passwords found on the Internet – thus making them the 'Worst Passwords' that will expose anybody to being hacked or having their identities stolen.

SplashData compiled its list from over 3.3 million leaked passwords in 2014. Taking the number one spot is '123456' followed by 'password'. Other passwords that are frequently used include '1234', '12345', '12345678', '123456789', 'qwerty', 'dragon', and 'football'. Nine of the top twenty five passwords are comprised of numbers only.

“Passwords based on simple patterns on your keyboard remain popular despite how weak they are,” said Morgan Slain, CEO 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.”


Tips for a Stronger Password:
● Avoid a sequence such as “qwertyuiop,” which is the top row of letters on a standard keyboard, or “1qaz2wsx” which comprises the first two ‘columns’ of numbers and letters on a keyboard.
● Don’t use a favorite sport as your password – “baseball” and “football” are in top 10, and “hockey,” “soccer” and “golfer” are in the top 100. Don’t use a favorite team either, as “yankees,” “eagles,” “steelers,” “rangers,” and “lakers” are all in the top 100.
● Don’t use your birthday or especially just your birth year -- 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992 are all in the top 100.
● While baby name books are popular for naming children, don’t use them as sources for picking passwords. Common names such as “michael,” “jennifer,” “thomas,” “jordan,” “hunter,” “michelle,” “charlie,” “andrew,” and “daniel” are all in the top 50.

Top 25 Worst Passwords of 2014:
1. 123456 (Unchanged from 2013)
2. password (Unchanged)
3. 12345 (Up 17)
4. 12345678 (Down 1)
5. qwerty (Down 1)
6. 1234567890 (Unchanged)
7. 1234 (Up 9)
8. baseball (New)
9. dragon (New)
10. football (New)
11. 1234567 (Down 4)
12. monkey (Up 5)
13. letmein (Up 1)
14. abc123 (Down 9)
15. 111111 (Down 8)
16. mustang (New)
17. access (New)
18. shadow (Unchanged)
19. master (New)
20. michael (New)
21. superman (New)
22. 696969 (New)
23. 123123 (Down 12)
24. batman (New)
25. trustno1 (Down 1)

You can download SplashID Safe Password Manager from the App Store for free.

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