Passwords are the mighty gatekeepers of our sensitive information these days. That includes everything from bank accounts to social media profiles.
while they protect the whole data that defines our life, millions of people use passwords so weak that they can be cracked in less than a second. Yes, you read that right— less than a second.
The most recent study by KnownHost explodes just how easy prey many of us are when it comes to password security.
The results are eye-opening and deeply concerning. So without wasting time, let’s dive into the details, get to know how easily compromised these passwords are, and lastly how to protect oneself from this growing menace.
The Most Hackable Passwords: A Shocking List
The study revealed the ten most hackable passwords, and if you use any of these, it’s time to change them. immediately. Here’s the breakdown:
- 123456 – Used over 3 million times and involved in more than 50 million breaches.
- 123456789 – Used 1.6 million times and implicated in 20.5 million breaches.
- Just – A four-digit password that’s as weak as it gets.
- 12345678 – Nearly 9.9 million breaches and counting.
- 12345 – Slightly longer than 1234, but just as insecure.
- password – The most hackable letter-based password, used 692,000 times and involved in over 11 million breaches.
- admin – A default password that’s shockingly common, with nearly 5 million breaches.
- 1234567 – Another numerical sequence that’s far too predictable.
- 1234567890 – Longer, but just as easy to guess by hackers.
- abc123 – The only alphanumeric password in the top ten, but its predictability makes it just as vulnerable.
What is amazing is how predictable they are. Simple numbers, common words only-they’re easy to crack by brute force or even guesswork for hackers.
Why Are These Passwords So Weak?
It’s such a list of the most hackable passwords; research also did an analysis on why they could be hacked so easily.
- Special Characters Were Missing: None of the top 200 passwords had any of the following characters: @, #, or importance they use those characters to add complexity to passwords, making it harder to crack.
- Over-Retaining Letters and Numbers: 65.5% of passwords were combinations of letters and numbers while 23.5% were entirely alphabetical; only 11% was purely numerical, but those made most really many breaches.
- Short Lengths: The most common was eight characters (20.5%), but usually, even those are too short to matter. Less frequent, four-character passwords are practically useless.
- Bottom line: Mostly people use passwords that are too simple, short, and predictable.
The Cost of Weak Passwords
The damage that weak passwords can do is enormous. A few projections earlier predicted that the average cost of data breaches would reach $4.88 million in 2024, increasing by about 10 percent from 2023 levels.
Individuals could also face potential identity theft, financial loss, and irreparable damage to both their personal and professional reputations.
I have a friend who uses “password123” for nearly all his accounts. Once, one of those accounts was hacked, and the thieves got access to everything from his email to social networking page and even online banking.
It took months to trace back all those losses, and such a “paranoia case” was the result of that. Undoubtedly this story is a cautionary tale for all of us.
How to Create a Strong Password
Now, what will it protect? Here are some practical tips:
- Make It Long: At least 12 characters; the longer a password, the harder it is to crack.
- Mix It Up: Combine uppercase and lowercase letters as well as numbers and even special characters.
- Become Unpredictable: No dictionary words, common phrases, or sequential numbers; steer clear of sequences such as 123 or abc.
- Use Passphrases: Throw together random words, like “PurpleTiger$Bounces@2025”. These are easier to remember and much harder to hack.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): No one can even compromise your password!
What Organizations Can Do
While each individual has some responsibility for their selection of passwords, organizations play a vital role in data protection. The following should happen over time:
- Impose stricter password policies requiring more and longer passwords.
- Implement multi-factor authentication across all accounts.
- Most importantly, educate employees and users about the importance of password security.
- Audit security protocols frequently and update them as needed to counter the evolving threats.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters
The KnownHost study was not just a wake-up call; it was a trumpet call for all of us to look seriously at password security.
Given the world we live in today and how connected we have all become, the stakes have never been higher. Cybercriminals get more sophisticated, and the tools they use to crack passwords are becoming more powerful.
But this good thing about it is if you adopt stronger password practices, you can afford to significantly reduce this risk. It’s not about paranoia, but being proactive. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Final thoughts
From the findings of this study, I could put down “securing one’s password” as the simple truth of understanding how often we become abusers.
Creating passwords that could be memorized makes it easy to crack. The compromise just isn’t worth it.
So, take a moment to review your passwords. Are they strong enough? Are they unique? If not, now’s the time to make a change.
Because in the battle against cybercrime, your password is your first line of defense and it’s worth fighting for. Stay safe out there!
