Many people continue to rely on incredibly weak passwords in 2023, according to a new report from NordPass, which revealed that the most common passwords currently are “123456” and “admin.”
The most common passwords used on e-commerce sites are “1234556,” “123456789,” and “12345678,” while “UNKNOWN,” “123456,” and “123456789” were the most frequently used passwords on social media, NordPass said.
According to the report, people use the weakest passwords on streaming platforms, with “123456,” “12345,” “123456789,” “12345678,” and “netflix,” making up the top five most common passwords used on these sites.
These findings are based on data from third-party researchers who analyzed up to 6.6TB of publicly available databases, including data found on the dark web.
Weak Passwords Persist
The overall most popular password in 2023 — “123456” — was also one of the most common passwords in 2022. The researchers found over 4.5 million instances of this password being used.
Unsurprisingly, most of the passwords in NordPass’ list of the top 200 most common passwords can be cracked in less than a second.
NordPass’ report sheds light on the pervasive issue of weak passwords across multiple platforms.
Despite multiple warnings from cybersecurity experts about the risks of using weak passwords, many continue this practice. This is especially disturbing as technological advancements have made it easier for hackers to breach accounts.
A study by Home Security Heroes, published in April, revealed that AI can crack most common passwords in less than a minute.
“This year, though, there’s an extra layer to the story,” NordPass said. “We’ve noticed some patterns, especially on certain platform categories. And with all the chatter about passkeys, one can’t help but wonder if there’s a better way to do user authentication.”
Passkeys: The Future of Authentication
Passkey, developed by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), is a promising alternative to traditional passwords. Big Tech companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft have already committed to this passwordless sign-in standard.
A recent survey by 1Password also revealed that 58% of North Americans are ready to ditch passwords, with 75% considering using passkey. Most password managers, like NordPass, already support passkeys.
NordPass emphasized the importance of using complex, unique passwords and urged netizens to avoid common words, names, or easily guessable passwords. Also, avoid re-using the same passwords.
We recommend using a password manager to generate and store secure passwords. Most top password managers can assess and provide reports on the strength of your passwords.
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