The NordPass 2024 report has revealed the latest trends in the usage of the most common passwords among Indians.
Popular passwords in India include predictable choices like “123456,” “password,” and “qwerty123.” Cultural personalization is noted with “India123” and “Indya123” among the top 20.
Common passwords worldwide consist of simple, sequential patterns such as “qwerty” and “123456789.” These combinations persist despite calls for stronger security practices.
Forty percent of common passwords are used across both personal and corporate accounts, with “admin” and default phrases like “newuser” often appearing in corporate environments, especially as temporary credentials.
Seventy-eight percent of the world’s most common passwords can be cracked in under a second, highlighting a worsening trend from last year. Weak passwords and reuse across accounts make individuals and companies vulnerable to brute-force attacks.
Many individuals use weak passwords for convenience, even across corporate settings, which risks both personal and organizational security.
Tips for managing passwords securely
Use passwords with at least 20 characters, combining numbers, letters, and special symbols. Alternatively, opt for a passphrase made of random, unrelated words.
Each account should have a unique password. Reusing passwords increases the risk of multiple accounts being compromised in a single breach.
Passkeys are a secure alternative to passwords and are now supported by major providers like Google, Microsoft, and Apple.
Use password managers and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) in work settings. This allows companies to maintain password standards and adds an extra layer of security.
