Using the same password for everything? It's time for change -- and here's some tips.
If your bank password is the same as your Facebook password, it’s time to change them both.
Using weak or the same passwords across websites can put you and your data at risk.
A study by password manager NordPass found the average internet user has 70-80 passwords, which can prove challenging when trying to remember which password goes with which website.
Some users default to a key that is easy to remember, such as a pet’s name, street name or something that can be quickly and easily typed on a keyboard.
That also means these passwords can be quickly cracked.
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Most common passwords being used
The chances of a hoodie-wearing-hacker furiously typing away in a dimly lit room in hopes of accessing your accounts are pretty low.
In reality it’s likely a bot running hundreds, if not thousands, of character combinations before eventually landing on the correct one.
NordPass released a list of the most popular passwords of 2021, most of which are estimated to take less than a second to crack.
The top five most common passwords in the United States are:
123456
password
12345
123456789
password1
Other popular passwords included first names, sports and “linkedin.”
How to create a strong password
Passwords don’t need to be an overcomplicated string of numbers, letters and symbols that are impossible to memorize.
When creating a strong password, think of a phrase or a string of words that will be easy to remember. For example: Flowersgrowoutside
Then, add in some numbers and special characters.
A password like Flow3rsgrow0uts!de% is trickier for a hacker, human or bot, to crack and gain access to your valuable information.
Password managers
The average internet user spends between 7-12 hours trying to remember their passwords every year, according to NordPass.
Instead of running the risk of locking yourself out, and possibly losing $220 million in Bitcoin, find a safe place to store your delicate details.
Never put important login details on a sticky note adhered to your computer or a fridge.
If you prefer digital storage, use a password manager. They are built-in on many smartphones and browsers or can be downloaded as a third party app.
They provide a safe place to store and access your passwords and can auto-fill your login details on different websites across different devices.
Just don’t forget your main password.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Password security: Tips for creating, remembering a strong password
