The most common passwords in the UK

Passwords are the first line of defence when it comes to securing online accounts. Unfortunately, despite years of awareness campaigns and warnings, many people continue to use easily guessable and widely known passwords, making their accounts vulnerable to hacking and data breaches.

But what are the 10 most common passwords used in the UK? And why do they pose such a risk to you and your company? According to various surveys and data breaches, some of the most commonly used passwords in the UK are:

1. 123456
2. 123456789
3. password
4. 12345678
5. qwerty
6. 12345
7. 1234567
8. 1234567890
9. letmein
10. football

These passwords may seem easy to remember and convenient, but they are also incredibly easy to guess. Cybercriminals use automated tools that can quickly and easily crack passwords like these, giving them access to sensitive information such as financial data, personal emails, and social media accounts.

Furthermore, many people tend to reuse passwords across multiple accounts. For example, if someone uses ‘123456’ as their password for their email account, they may also use it for their banking or social media accounts. This practice is incredibly dangerous because if one account is compromised, all of the others are also at risk.

So, what can you do to protect yourself and your data? First and foremost, using a strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts is essential. A strong password should be at least 12 characters long, with a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. You can use a password manager to generate and store strong passwords securely.

Secondly, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible is important. 2FA adds an extra layer of security to your account by requiring you to provide a second form of authentication, such as a fingerprint scan or a code sent to your phone, in addition to your password. You can find out more about 2FA in our blog here.

Using weak passwords is a security issue that puts not only your personal and financial information at risk but also your company and your customer’s information at risk too. By using strong and unique passwords and enabling 2FA, you can significantly increase the security of your online accounts. Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to password security.