The ABC123’s of Passwords: Do’s and Don’t’s

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Keeping your passwords confidential is as important as locking your door before leaving the house, or securing your debit PIN number. With the multitude of sensitive data now being stored in password-protected online accounts, it’s time to check how well you’re securing your important information.

First, make sure that none of the passwords you use are on the annual list of Worst Passwords, put together by SplashData. Every year, SplashData compiles the most commonly used passwords on the internet, and even though knowing not to use these passwords should be common knowledge, the same passwords end up ranking every year.

  1. 123456
  2. password
  3. 12345678
  4. qwerty
  5. 12345
  6. 123456789
  7. football
  8. 1234
  9. 1234567
  10. baseball
  11. welcome
  12. 1234567890
  13. Abc123
  14. 11111
  15. 1qaz2wsx
  16. dragon
  17. master
  18. monkey
  19. letmein
  20. login
  21. princess
  22. qwertyuiop
  23. solo
  24. passw0rd
  25. starwars

If you one of your passwords on this list, change it immediately.

These are the most commonly used passwords, and potential hackers know that. They will be the first ones they try when attempting to hack into your account.
If you think some of your passwords are lackluster, here are some guidelines on writing strong, secure passwords:

  1. Avoid using dictionary words.
  2. Use at least 12 characters, including upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers and symbols (@%*).
  3. Use different passwords for different websites. If one website password gets compromised, this will ensure your other information is safe.

At Vortex, our clients’ security is our top priority. We issue strong passwords and offer two factor authentication on all of our websites. The best cyber defense is a tough password!

For more information, contact your web security team at Vortex Business Solutions.