Ever kept '123456' as your password? NordPass report reveals why such passwords are a hacker's dream

In today's digital world, where everything from purchasing groceries to dating takes place online, securing our digital information is more important than ever. Yet, millions continue to use easily hackable passwords, leaving themselves vulnerable to cyberattacks. A recent study from NordPass reveals that the most common passwords are far from secure - and you will be surprised (or not) to know what the most common password is.

'123456' tops the global list of most common passwords.

In India too, a significant portion of users still rely on '123456' or 'password' for their accounts, despite warnings from cybersecurity experts.

Even simple patterns like '123456789' and 'qwerty' continue to dominate, making them prime targets for hackers.

The NordPass report also highlighted a trend where users personalise simple password formats by adding cultural or personal touches. For example, 'Indya123' is a variation of the more generic 'India123', blending simplicity with a local twist.

As such, these passwords become a huge security risk as they can be cracked in seconds, and hackers know it.

The research also found that many corporate accounts are equally vulnerable, with businesses using weak default passwords like 'admin' or 'welcome,' which are easily guessed by cybercriminals.

In fact, the study highlights that 78% of the most commonly used passwords worldwide can be cracked in less than a second.

To avoid falling victim to a hack, it's essential to adopt stronger password practices. Experts recommend using passphrases that combine random numbers, letters (both uppercase and lowercase), and special characters, making them much harder to crack.

Additionally, implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) can provide an extra layer of protection, ensuring your accounts remain secure even if your password is compromised.

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