This is the most dangerous password in the world, don’t use it for banking, social networks or email: change it now

Among the great variety passwords that users can choose to protect their bank accounts, social networks and emailThere is one that should be avoided at all costs: 123456. Cybercriminals can decrypt it in less than a second, according to cybersecurity company NordPass.

This analysis shows that 123456 is the most commonly used password in the world and therefore the most insecure. Next on the list are other equally vulnerable parameters, such as 123456789, 12345678, password and qwerty123, which round out the top 5.

Like the first ones, all of them can be decrypted in less than a second, making them easy targets for computer attacks.

According to the above study, these are the ten most commonly used passwords and therefore the most dangerous and easiest to decipher:

1. 123456
2. 123456789
3. 12345678
4. password
5. qwerty123
6. qwerty1
7. 111111
8. 12345
9. secret
10. 123123

Creating strong passwords is essential to protect your accounts and personal data from possible cyberattacks. There are several basic guidelines that any user can follow:

• Use long passwords: A minimum length of 12 characters is recommended, as longer passwords are more difficult to crack.
• Combine different types of characters: Passwords must include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters such as @, #, $, or %.
• Avoid personal information: First names, last names, dates of birth, telephone numbers or any other information that can be easily associated with the user should not be used.

• Don’t use common words or obvious sequences: Words like “password” or simple combinations like “123456” or “qwerty” are extremely vulnerable and are often the first to be tested by cybercriminals.
• Choose complex sentences: An effective method is to create unique phrases that combine special words and symbols. For example, “CasaVerde#2023!” It’s safer than one word or a predictable sequence.
• Prevent password reuse: Each account should have a unique password to minimize the risk if one of them is hacked.
• Use password managers: These tools help you create strong passwords and store them securely, eliminating the need for the user to remember them all.

• Update your passwords periodically: Changing your passwords regularly is a good practice, especially if you suspect one of your passwords may have been stolen.

Remembering complex passwords can be a challenge, but there are several strategies that can make it easier without compromising security:

• Come up with easy-to-remember phrases: Using long, meaningful phrases combined with special characters can make things easier to remember. For example, a phrase like “MisCats#Saltan5Veces!” combines familiar words with numbers and symbols, making it safe and easy to remember.
• Associate the password with a mental image: Matching the password with an image or mental story can help you remember it. For example, for the password “Mountain@Green2024” it would be desirable to imagine a green mountain with a 2024 sign.

• Use abbreviations or initials: Users can generate a password using the initials of a phrase or song that they can easily remember. For example, “InMyCasa There There3Dogs!” could become “EMCH3P!”
• Use a password manager: These tools securely store and organize passwords. You only need to remember one master password to gain access to all the others.
• Write secure hints (not exact passwords): If you decide to write things down, make sure they are clues that only you can interpret. For example, for the password “Star@Sun12” you could write “astro+sun+12”.

Using these strategies allows users to effectively manage complex passwords, reducing the likelihood of forgetting them while maintaining a high level of security for their accounts.