New Password Hack Warning: If Yours Is on This List, Change It Now!

Update, Jan. 22, 2025: It’s the dreaded password dilemma again—strong passwords are a must, but let’s face it, who has the time? While we wait for the “password-less” future, we’re all still stuck juggling these digital keys that seem to be just a tick away from getting hacked. If you’re using any of the worst offenders on the newly published list of passwords, it’s time to make like a springbok and jump to a safer option.

Here’s the lowdown:
Security boffins over at anyIP took a deep dive into the world’s most commonly used passwords (compiled by NordPass). Surprise, surprise, the results were not pretty. Think simple and totally hackable options like “password” and “123456.” Apparently, if you’re still using these, hackers are basically waiting for you to “leave the door open.”

Top offenders to ditch ASAP:

1. password (No one’s fooling anyone here)
2. qwerty123 (It’s a keyboard, not a code)
3. qwerty1 (Might as well add “hack me” as your middle name)
4. 123456 (Well, duh)
5. 12345 (For when you just can’t be bothered)

But don’t think it’s just about these few culprits—oh no. A disturbing number of passwords are made up of simple keyboard sequences and easily guessable digits. Hackers, armed with their fancy tools, can crack these in seconds. So, if you’re one of the millions relying on these ancient relics, it’s time to change your approach.

A Better Way: Passkeys Are the Future (Sort Of)
The National Cyber Security Centre in the UK is raving about passkeys, which are fancy, secure codes that can’t be easily phished or cracked. They’re faster, safer, and way cooler than the old-school password. Microsoft and Google have jumped on the bandwagon, touting huge improvements in security and speed.

But, and there’s always a but, the passkey train isn’t without its bumps. There’s still confusion around how to use them (because you need to get your devices and accounts to play nicely together) and the concern of losing your device (hello, panic attack). But don’t stress, most services offer backup options like extra security codes or a fallback password.

What You Can Do:

1. Use passkeys wherever possible. Check out Passkeys.io for a demo and see how easy they can be.
2. Get a password manager. These little helpers generate random, complex passwords that are way harder to crack. No more “password123”!
3. Stop reusing passwords. It’s tempting, but it’s not worth the risk.

So, if your password is in the “bad idea” list, make a change today. Your online accounts will thank you, and so will your future self—hopefully.

Source Info: https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2025/01/22/new-password-hacking-warning-act-now-if-yours-is-on-this-list/