“Oh damn! I’ve forgotten it… again.” It’s a common phrase of many people when trying to enter their password.
But while there might be a tendency to keep it simple and straightforward, the following list is enough to leave any keyboard wobbling with fear.
Twenty-five of the most common passwords from the 3.3 million leaked online last year have been revealed by SplashData. The password management firm has been compiling the annual list since 2011.
For the second year running 123456 and password were top of the pile. Common passwords are much easier to guess and that makes users vulnerable to having accounts like email and online banking hacked.
New additions to this year’s list include: baseball, dragon, football, mustang, access, master, michael, superman, batman and 696969. Other number-related passwords on the list are: 12345, 12345678, 1234567890, 1234, 1234567, 111111, 123123. Most of the passwords stolen and revealed in 2014 came from users in North America and Western Europe.
Experts recommend avoiding favourite sports, birthdays and keyboard patterns when thinking up a new password. Shadow, monkey and phrases: letmein and trustno1 also made the list. Good advice, that last one.
And if you’re still in any doubt – Don’t use words, use phrases, like the first letter of each word and change it regularly.