Most Common Passwords in 2023 Unveiled: Is Yours on the List?

In a familiar tale of cybersecurity, the annual list of the most common passwords has been unveiled by NordPass, and to no one's surprise, favorites like "123456" and "password" continue to dominate. Despite repeated warnings from cybersecurity experts urging users to adopt stronger password practices, the lure of simplicity still prevails.

NordPass, in its fifth annual publication, examined a massive 4.3 terabytes of data related to cybersecurity incidents to compile the list of the top 200 most common passwords, revealing some persistent trends.

Most Common Passwords in 2023

Topping the list are the usual suspects:

1. 123456

2. admin

3. 12345678

4. 123456789

5. 1234

6. 12345

7. password

8. 123

9. Aa123456

10. 1234567890

11. UNKNOWN

12.1234567

13.123123

14. 111111

15. Password

16. 12345678910

17. 000000

18. admin123

19. ********

20. user

See the full list here.

Alarming But Unsurprising

Alarming but unsurprisingly, NordPass found that all these passwords could be cracked in less than a second, emphasizing the urgent need for users to prioritize stronger and more unique combinations.

NordPass provided insights into its findings, stating that for five years, they have been tracking password habits, and observing recurring patterns. This year, they note an extra layer to the story, pointing to emerging trends and potential shifts in passkey authentication methods.

The report invites users to explore the future of passkeys amid ongoing discussions about improving user authentication.

NordPass clarified its methodology, emphasizing its commitment to privacy. The list was compiled in collaboration with independent researchers specializing in cybersecurity incidents.

The data, extracted from various sources, including the dark web, totaled 4.3TB, with no acquisition of personal data by NordPass. The study included statistical information from researchers in up to 35 countries, focusing on eight types of platform categories.

The report sheds light on the persistent challenges associated with passwords, emphasizing that while technological advancements make passwords harder to breach, malware attacks remain a significant threat to account security.

The statistics paint a stark picture, with 86% of all web app attacks utilizing stolen credentials, 18% of the most common items on the dark web being online accounts, emails, and passwords, and a staggering 24 billion credentials breached since 2016.

As users grapple with password fatigue, the need for robust cybersecurity measures becomes increasingly evident. The report serves as a reminder that despite the familiarity of these warnings, the onus remains on individuals to adopt more secure and unique password practices to safeguard their digital identities.

So if your password is included on the list, you might want to rethink. Being original doesn't hurt especially if it's for your own privacy!