Most Common Passwords

Is your password one of the top most common passwords? We've all been there. You decide to join a website. Everything is going great, until you get to that ever elusive perfect password. The hack proof password that no one else in the world would ever come up with. How many of you have sat and pondered as words, numbers and symbols flashed across your mind until the perfect combination pops out in triumphant from the rest. Feeling coy, you type in your newly thought of, perfect password. A smug grin spreads across your face as you turn to write your password in a safe place, just in case you forget it later. Eager eyes, ready to get into the site, return to the computer screen and the message in red above your perfect password that says, "This password is all ready in use". What the hey! #%$*. Your brain suddenly shuts down. The pressure is too much. Security and reason is tossed out the window and you quickly type in "whatever" or something easy to remember like, "123456" just to put this baby to bed. After all, you have things to do and a website to explore.

What's ironic about choosing a password is we know in advance that question is going to come up anytime we log in to a new site. Why does it take us by surprise? I know, some of you are prepared for those pesky little intrusions into web browsing, banking, online buying or any other sign up form. Great, but is your password really hack proof? Is it one of the top most common passwords?

Have you checked your passwords lately? Just how secure are they? Passwords are the keys that lock private information away from those whose intent is to do us harm. We get that and our most serious attempt for the perfect password has to be for all critical operations done online. Banking activities, stock trades, PayPal or any site that includes personal information that would aid a hacker in stealing your identity. Some of us have enough problems with our identity without having some stranger invade it in hopes of taking advantage of our lives.

Most passwords require a minimum of 6 characters. Hence the common password dilemma. For certain sign ups, common may be fine. However, hackers have gotten pass these passwords as well as not so common passwords to get into MySpace and Facebook pages and have been able to roam around posing as the owner of the stolen page. That's almost like some stranger breaking into your home and going through your underwear drawer. Yuck.

Strong passwords aren't difficult to build. A thoughtful combination of numbers, letters and symbols can give you peace of mind in knowing your information is securely under wraps and away from prying eyes. A new and strong password for each online account. Avoid storing any password directly on your computer or any online site that will store your passwords for you. If a hacker can break into government and banking computers, what makes you think an online site can guarantee your passwords will be safe and secure. Why would you want to store your keys online where a hacker could have a gold mine of passwords to chose from if they were able to gain access to the password storing site? Take pen and paper and write them down the old fashion way. Make sure to store your list in a safe place at home. Remember prying eyes are also at home. Imagine the fun someone (your little brother or sister) could have checking out your Facebook or MySpace page. If writing them down seems too antiquated, try Roboform. A great tool that not only remembers your passwords; it will quickly fill in those tedious log in forms.

The purpose of a password is for your protection. It's worth the time spent to think of one that will give you not only a lock, but a deadbolt to your private information. Next time you need a password, forget the cutesy, Rosebud, the number or name of the pride of Star fleet Command, The Starship Enterprise, a simple phrase like "whatever" or xxxxxx. Go for the home run of passwords by choosing wisely. You can avoid the most common password trap with a simple combination lock that works like a charm and will increase your chances of not having a stranger looking over your shoulder.

See if any of your passwords made the list of most common passwords. If you see any, now is the time to upgrade to a more secure one.

The 10 that top the list of most common passwords are:

1. password
   
2. 123456
   
3. qwerty
   
4. abc123
   
5. letmein
   
6. monkey
   
7. myspace1
   
8. password1
   
9. link182 or blink182
   
10. (your first name)
    

The Top 500 Worst Passwords of All Time, What's My Pass?

10 Most Common Passwords, PCMAG.Com

Gina Hughes, Most Common Passwords, Yahoo Tech