What's the passw0rd, sunshine? letmein
dragon, iloveyou, letmein. It’s as easy as 123456 to have your account hacked if your password is one of these most insecure passwords to use.
SplashData created a list of the worst 25 passwords for 2011 from millions of stolen passwords hackers posted online. SplashData sells security services and password services, and is offering these tips on how to create a safe password:
1. Make it eight characters or more
2. Use upper- and lower-case letters
3. Include numbers and symbols
Another valuable tip is to create a unique password for every account.
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- US-based Lookout Mobile Security is expanding to Australia
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Click here to read the latest issue of Business Review Australia
Think you can’t create a hacker-proof password? A variety of password generating tools are available to help create one for you, such as PCTools or Wolfram Alpha search engine. The idea of these tools is to create a truly random password, unlike using your favourite sport or your first name, Ashley and Michael.
These can be more difficult to remember, but a password manager like KeePass can store all your passwords in an encrypted database. Now, you only have to remember one master password (no, master and password are not good options). KeePass is also cross-platform compatible offering convenient portability.
Several websites offer a rating scale when you create a password, including Microsoft. The HTTPS password tester online is a strength scale from red to green. LBW-Soft’s Password Review also provides an online service to break down where a password needs improvement.
Remember, trustno1 with your passw0rd, and don’t use any of the ones on this list, superman:
1. password
2. 123456
3. 12345678
4. qwerty
5. abc123
6. monkey
7. 1234567
8. letmein
9. trustno1
10. dragon
11. baseball
12. 111111
13. iloveyou
14. master
15. sunshine
16. ashley
17. bailey
18. passw0rd
19. shadow
20. 123123
21. 654321
22. superman
23. qazwsx
24. michael
25. football
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