- Password123
- 123456
- qwerty
- letmein
- abc123
Do you recognize your password in any of the above most-common passwords of 2023? If so, you may want to consider changing it now. According to Bitwarden’s password strength testing tool (Source: bitwarden.com), the above passwords can be hacked within seconds. But before you come up with an ultra-complicated password, try a passphrase instead.
Passphrases are words linked together like a sentence. They’re long and simple, making them easy to remember but harder to crack than typical passwords. A good passphrase could be a random thought or a favorite saying.
For example, according to Bitwarden, the passphrase sometimes_i_think_about_the_stars could take centuries to crack. No matter what you choose, make sure it doesn’t include personal information like your name, initials, login ID, etc. And using a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and special characters can also amplify the security.
Finally, to be steadfast in your cybersecurity, each application or service should have a different password/passphrase. If you think you may have trouble remembering all of them, a password manager can make the task easier. Go here to learn more about password manager options (Source: staysafeonline.org).
For more information regarding the importance of using secure passwords and a password manager, visit the Cybersecurity Awareness Month website (Source: cam.it.wisc.edu).