These are the 20 worst passwords you can use

It’s a tough balancing act to create a password that’s both strong and easy to remember. If you make your passwords too simple, you can actually put your accounts in danger of cyberattacks.

The strongest passwords always use a complex arrangement of numbers, letters and symbols that make them tricky to guess. If you don’t repeat characters, it can also be difficult for hackers to brute force them. Tap or click here to see our guide to stronger passwords.

If you want a perfect example of what not to use as a password, look no further than the NordPass list of most common passwords for 2020. Some of these examples are laughably bad, and if you use anything similar for your accounts, it’s time to make a change.

Are people really using these passwords?

Each year, NordPass puts together a list ranking the most common passwords of the last 12 months. Some of these entries have been mainstays for several previous editions, while others have recently risen to popularity.

Two common issues affecting several of these passwords are repeating or sequential characters. If a password uses the same characters multiple times or puts them in alphabetical order, for example, they’re much easier for hackers or malware to guess.

Anyone with passwords on the list should change them immediately. Obviously, most are easily hackable and many have already been exposed in massive data leaks.

Tap or click here to see a site that will tell you if your accounts were included in a data breach or leak.

Check your own passwords against this list from NordPass and see if your cybersecurity is up to snuff.

  1. 123456
  2. 123456789
  3. picture1
  4. password
  5. 12345678
  6. 111111
  7. 123123
  8. 12345
  9. 1234567890
  10. senha
  11. 1234567
  12. qwerty
  13. abc123
  14. Million2
  15. 000000
  16. 1234
  17. iloveyou
  18. aaron431
  19. password1
  20. qqww1122

Yes, the most commonly used password is 123456. That scene from “Spaceballs” isn’t just a joke anymore.

How can I make better, stronger passwords?

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A bug in Windows 10 means your passwords could disappear

Software: Can’t live with it, can’t work without it. It sure would be nice if all computer programs worked the way they are supposed to every time we need them, but as you’re well aware, that’s not the case.

The reality is that bugs happen, and they happen often. Any Microsoft Windows user can tell you that much. A Windows patch that was released earlier this year fixed a whopping 113 bugs — and plenty of more updates have followed.

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How to find saved passwords

You know you need unique, hard-to-crack passwords for your accounts, and remembering those complex strings of letters, numbers and characters is a real struggle. That’s why it’s so easy to let your browser do the work for you. But what if you need to see your actual password, not just the auto-filled asterisks? You can with one simple trick.

Tech Refresh: What we're grateful for, smart password tactics and shopping in secret

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In this special episode of Tech Refresh, Kim joins Mike’s team in Brand New or Not True. Can Allie, Ben and Cassidy fool them? Plus, the tech getting the Komando team through 2020, PlayStation and Xbox scams and practical ways to manage all those passwords.

6 privacy and security mistakes you’re making on social media

Pop quiz: What percentage of American adults use social media? Think about it and I’ll tell you the answer below.

From Facebook to Twitter to Instagram and all the sites in between, we’re voluntarily giving out more information online than ever. Tap or click to get a closer look at exactly what Google knows about you and the steps to erase it.

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Your passwords are exposed - here's what to do about it

Pop quiz: How many passwords do you use online? It’s probably more than you can remember right away, and most of the world is right there with you. According to a report from cybersecurity firm Digital Shadows, the average person uses 191 services that require passwords — and more than 15 billion stolen credentials are in circulation. That’s a 300% increase since 2018!

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Use these passwords if you want to get hacked

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Passwords are a pain, but they’re worth the struggle. Finding a strong password can be tough, but I’ve got you covered. Here’s what NOT to do!

Passwords. Men do this more than women.

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Billions of passwords for sale on the Dark Web - this one was used 7 million times

How tough are your passwords? Despite what you may think, the best password practices from 10 years ago won’t cut it today. If you share passwords across different websites, for example, it’s time to get busy changing them for the sake of your security.

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Work from home basics: 4 tips to help you get started

The dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases has prompted many businesses to transition to remote work. In 2018, a quarter of Americans worked from home at least some of the time. Now, at-home workers may be the norm for the foreseeable future.

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How-to: Lock down private files on your phone or computer

It doesn’t matter what you save to your phone, computer or tablet — everything you keep on your devices should be considered private unless you give someone else permission to look through your files, images and apps.

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CDs and LPs go digital, snooping spouses, social media alerts and more: Tech Q&A

Each week, I receive tons of questions from my listeners about tech concerns, new products and all things digital.

Sometimes, choosing the most interesting questions to highlight is the best part of my job. This week, I received questions about password protection for apps, covert social media searches, smartphone tracking, converting music collections and more.

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The shocking price of your info on the Dark Web

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How much do you think a cybercriminal would pay for your passwords, debit card info or even your Social Security number? The answer will surprise you. Find out your worth on the web.

Google's plan to help you make better, stronger passwords

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Making strong passwords is a pain, but there’s really no excuse to leave your accounts unprotected. Google is making it even easier for users with a new feature, and I have a trick you’ll use time and again.

Revealed: Dark Web prices for stolen IDs

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Take a guess — how much do you think cybercriminals would pay for your user names, passwords and other personal data? This is one area where you want to be undervalued. Kim has the story.

Horrible passwords

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America’s worst passwords, and how to fix them