After reading this, you might feel compelled to update your passwords. You’ll want something that’s easy to remember but tough to crack, so aim for a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, along with numbers and symbols. However, avoid making it overly complicated to the point where you forget it.
It can be especially frustrating when Google’s ‘suggested password’ gets lost, leaving you unable to access your account. The goal is to create something memorable but difficult to guess. Ethical hacker Joe Cockroft, as reported by The Daily Mail, warns many Brits against using overly common passwords, advising against using ‘identifiable information,’ which hackers can easily find.
He explains, “Although such information may be easy to recall, hackers can often find it by browsing your social media.”
NordPass has identified some of the most commonly used passwords in the UK, including:
• 12345
Despite being a poor choice, this remains one of the most popular passwords, both in the UK and globally, making it an easy target for hackers.
• 123456
This is identified as the UK’s most common password and can be cracked in less than a second.
• 12345678
Another weak numerical password.
• 123456789
This is a commonly used password because it’s easily typed by sliding fingers across the keyboard.
• abc123
Although it combines numbers and letters, it still lacks complexity and is easy to break.
• password
As the second most popular password, it’s far too simple to guess. Never use ‘password’ as your password.
• qwerty
Similar to ‘123456,’ it uses adjacent keyboard letters, which makes it predictable and insecure.
• liverpool
Joe advises against using favorite football teams as passwords. ‘Liverpool’ tops the list in the UK.
• arsenal
The same advice applies—avoid using team names like Arsenal.
• chelsea
Similar to the others, football club names are easily guessed by hackers who might know your team preference.
For stronger passwords, Joe recommends a complex mix of numbers, letters, and symbols. He also stresses the importance of regularly checking your passwords for breaches and changing them immediately if they’ve been compromised.