- Password123
- 123456
- qwerty
- letmein
- abc123
Do you recognize your password in any of these most common passwords? 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.
What’s a passphrase?
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 your passphrase 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.
Password managers & more security resources
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) or visit our guide: How to select, manage & protect your passwords (Source: it.wisc.edu).