5. “123456”
No lie, this is the most common password used. (And “123456789” is right behind it.) If you’re lazy enough to rock with this, we’d hate to see the back of your fridge. Or your personal grooming situation. Or really anything else in your life.
4. “Password”
Another perennial top five on security audits, this either means you never bothered changing the default when it was given to you — in the early 2000s, we’re guessing — or you have trouble remembering how to count in order. Real talk, we’re surprised you spell it right often enough to actually log in to that Hotmail account.
3. The same password you use everywhere else
A 2019 Google/Harris poll found that 52% of people reuse passwords. Even worse, 13% of them use one password for everything. Okay, we thought this was covered in Being Online 101, but it looks like we need to be clearer: This is like giving someone a master key to your entire damn life. One account goes, they alllll go. Have fun sifting through receipts for all the cool shit someone bought in your name!
2. Your birthday
You’re more likely to try this with your phone’s passcode than an actual login, but that doesn’t make it any less stupid — especially given who might be wanting access to your phone and why. But hey, we’re not here to moralize.
1. Your social security number
Sure, you might think it’s perfect; if no one else knows it; no one can guess it. But do you have any idea how many companies and services — not to mention THE GODDAMN GOVERNMENT — already have it? You’re the one who gave it to them to prove who you are, dummy! It doesn’t stop there, either. Data breaches happen at these companies all the time. Like, all the time. And when they do, lists of passwords exposed in those branches routinely show up for sale on the dark web. If it’s a regular password, you just change the password. If it’s your SSN, though, you could be fucked for life. RIP your credit score, fam.
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