If you’re still using the same password you chose ten years ago across all your online accounts, it’s probably time to look at your password security.
Despite the growing awareness of cyber security and protecting your data online, passwords are a commonly-overlooked chink in your online security armour, with most security breaches being caused by weak passwords.
The Most Common Passwords In The UK
The latest 2022 research from password manager Nordpass found that “password” and “123456” remain the top two most common passwords used in the UK.
Other passwords featured in the UK’s top 20 most common passwords include:
– Guest
– Liverpool
– Qwerty
– Arsenal
– Password1
– Charlie
– 12345678
– Chocolate
Names, football teams and even default passwords are among the most common passwords in 2022 — if one of your passwords features on this list, it’s time to upgrade your password security.
Tips For Better Password Security
Although companies employ their own measures, such as encryption, hashing and salting, you can still improve the security of your passwords to keep your personal and work data and devices secure.
Use A Password Manager
Using the same password for all your accounts or keeping your passwords on an openly-accessible spreadsheet isn’t enough to keep your data secure. Store your passwords in a dedicated password manager that safely encrypts and auto-fills your passwords — keeping all your online accounts secure without needing to remember each password.
Generate Unique, Single-Use Passwords
Whether for your online banking or sensitive commercial documents, each account you hold online should have a unique password to stop a potential breach from giving hackers access to your entire identity or your company’s infrastructure. The most robust passwords for your online security include a random combination of 11-15 upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Keep Track Of All Your Online Accounts
The more accounts you hold online, the higher your risk of a data breach. Keep a record of all the online subscriptions, work portals and services you create an account with, and delete them once you’re done using them. This way, you minimise your chances of being exposed to a cyber attack.
While weak passwords are an often-exploited area of online security, most people are still complacent with their passwords. To read more about improving your password security, find all our resources in our archives.
