It is impossible to have an account that is completely void of any vulnerability, however, ensuring that all your passwords are complex and unique to each of your different accounts will help in preventing an attacker from using the same compromised credentials across multiple platforms. With 2020 nearing its end, it is once again time for password management companies to release their version of ‘worst passwords of 2020’ lists. NordPass, a password manager solution provider, released its list of the most common and ineffective passwords of 2020. It shows just how many users lack training or effort when securing their accounts. According to NordPass, most people use passwords that are easy to remember, however, these passwords are just as easy to crack. The research found passwords like ‘123456’, ‘123456789’ and ‘password’ were some of the most common passwords of 2020. The reason for such lackluster passwords is simple – they are convenient and easy to remember.

If you are someone who likes to stick to convenient and easy to remember passwords, it is time you take the steps to avoid data breaches more seriously. Here are some of the worst 2020 passwords released by NordPass.

Source: Nordpass.com

Password hygiene- A top priority

Looking at the list of the most used passwords, it is evident some users are not as serious about security as they should be. Passwords like ‘123456’ and ‘123456789’ are leading the pack as the most popular which makes it easier for attackers to crack these passwords. If one of your passwords has made it onto the list, then know that your data may have already been compromised and you should verify, and change account passwords associated with it. There is no need for clever social engineering or advanced tools to crack passwords this simple, a simple brute force program using password lists made of the most common passwords will compromise the accounts as long as they have the correct username information. If you have been using the same password across your different accounts, your security position only gets worse. Reusing the same password is a good way to snowball a data breach, as one compromised account turns into many.

What to avoid when creating a password

Be smart when creating your password. Never use sequential letters or numbers. Avoid using dictionary words, date of birth, phone number, or anything that includes your personal information.

Create a strong password

Create a password that is complex and will override dictionary attacks and brute force attacks to take as long as possible. This does not mean you cannot have a password that is easy to remember. Create a longer one, at least 15 characters, with a combination of characters like a number, symbol, and uppercase and lowercase letters. Do not reuse your password across various devices and accounts. The best way to ensure data security- change your password every 3 months.

Password Manager

Last, the easiest way to create a password for different accounts and not forget them is to use a password manager. Creating a password for different accounts and memorizing the complex passwords can seem daunting at first, but you can use password managers like 1Password or LastPass. They can generate unique, unpredictable passwords and store them in an encrypted vault with the autofill feature to access your accounts. Also, enable 2FA whenever and wherever possible. It is better to use any form of two-factor authentication than no 2FA at all.

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