The Top 25 Worst Passwords Of 2011: See What To Avoid

Think your password is fine? You'd better check this list to be sure.

Password management app maker SplashData has released their list of the 25 worst passwords of 2011. These are the passwords that get hacked the most frequently, based on SplashData's study of millions of stolen passwords that have been posted online by hackers.

Many of the worst offenders are sequential numbers ("123456") or sequential keyboard keys ("qwerty") or password-related words like "password" or "letmein".

According to SplashData CEO Morgan Slain, who was quoted on Mashable, "Even though people are encouraged to select secure, strong passwords, many people continue to choose weak, easy-to-guess ones, placing themselves at risk from fraud and identity theft."

People's hesitance to make complicated passwords is understandable considering the sheer number of passwords the average person has--but that doesn't make it alright. A 2007 study found that the average person had 25 passwords and used 8 of them per day. That number has almost certainly increased. However, what's more annoying than having to remember Qw!cK@sAbunN!3 is having your identity stolen. In 2010, the FTC received 1.3 million complaints of fraud or identity theft.

So how can you make your passwords better? Use a variety of letters, numbers and symbols. Change them every six months. Don't use the same one for every account, and know that even a slight variation makes a difference. Avoid using real words. According to Daily Finance, hackers use "dictionary attacks" that make it easy for them to crack passwords that are words or sequential numbers. And finally, don't use any of these--SlashData's 25 worst passwords of the year:

1. password
2. 123456
3. 12345678
4. qwerty
5. abc123
6. monkey
7. 1234567
8. letmein
9. trustno1
10. dragon
11. baseball
12. 111111
13. iloveyou
14. master
15. sunshine
16. ashley
17. bailey
18. passw0rd
19. shadow
20. 123123
21. 654321
22. superman
23. qazwsx
24. michael
25. football

Check out more common passwords to avoid here or here.

Comments

[DSevere]

01:35 AM on 12/31/2011

I thought my passwords were too transparent (a revolving system of my pets' nicknames plus a series of numbers) but now that I see some of these, hey, mine are pretty good!

The one place where I fall down is, when I do change them frequently, I forget to note them down in an organized way so I'm always having to run through 4 or 5 till I hit the right one...)

[GaryNOVA]

11:25 PM on 11/21/2011

My password is Chikenphukir2011

[SLABRN]

04:26 PM on 11/21/2011

Our hospital switched our narcotic machine to a thumbprint access but trouble cropped up of course. One girl's skin was too dark to register and once winter started, several of us found our skin too dry to register the print because of frequent handwashing. It's always something.

[pachydermicneedler]

04:24 PM on 11/21/2011

I often use a word in the dictionary--just not the English one. Something like Klappeschlange or cudeferro. One of the small side benefits of knowing a foreign language...

[Rosemary Hirsch]

04:11 PM on 11/21/2011

I was told by a banker to use a series of numbers that have a personal meaning to you, like the date you graduated from a specific school, such as 5830, which only you would know.

[psandysdad]

04:05 PM on 11/21/2011

If it's in the dictionary it is a weak password.

[Daniel Desormeau]

10:54 AM on 11/22/2011

indeed, I don't think most people realize that we have rainbow tables and the like so any dictionary word can be cracked fairly quickly and easily. Especially now that companies are leasing computer time, now hackers can multiply their processing power and reduce cracking time to a fraction of what it used to be...

[lttim76]

03:44 PM on 11/21/2011

Those are the same combinations I have on my luggage!!!!!

[WHATTHEHELLPEOPLE]

03:41 PM on 11/21/2011

oh sure, give out everyones password info.............

[WillowBreeze]

03:40 PM on 11/21/2011

That’s it, I’m changing all my passwords. I admit I’m a “techno dunce” maybe it’s an earned lazy pleasure in our golden years. Is it easy to find someone on HP? We’re an opinionated bunch. I’ve fanned and favored many terrific folks on here, some I’d love to share emails with but I’m leery. And, I’m concerned about all those angry folks I’ve whizzed off. My picture indicates that I’m surely someone’s grandmother, but I don’t think spiteful people care. I am deleting Banana Split, and Coconut Custard Pie, but I’ll really miss Chocolate Martinis. We can’t be too careful.

[krazysteve]

03:28 PM on 11/21/2011

Wordpass is still too complex to be hacked as well.

[David Miffitt]

03:17 PM on 11/21/2011

It said that 123456 was a bad password... but it didn't say anything about 12345! My luggage is safe!

[jrev2020]

03:14 PM on 11/21/2011

These passwords (in the video example) that are so complicated you have so sit and remember shift keys (capitals) dates then putting them backwards ARE THE EASIEST to steal when sitting next to or behind someone. The hardest are the ones that are typed easily where people type so fast you don't know what they just typed. If you see someone hit a key..then think slowly hit shift and a key, number key, or shift and character key...you can easily take a mental note. I'm just guessing of course not that I have or would ever do such a thing nor do I condone it ; )

[blessed110296]

02:53 PM on 11/21/2011

Lol, I would never use something so obvious!!

[SonOfUgh]

06:30 AM on 11/22/2011

"obvious". Great password. I'll have to switch to that one.

[RTIII]

11:32 PM on 11/22/2011

too short - "somethingsoobvious", of course!

[leushino]

02:49 PM on 11/21/2011

Again... very poor advice is being offered here in this video. "Write our passwords down on a piece of paper?" Seriously? Absolutely NOT. Either get a password manager which requires that you only remember ONE strong password OR commit to memory a few strong passwords... period.

[smily1118]

02:45 PM on 11/21/2011

they forgot "current season and year" (ex. Winter11 or Winter2011)