Online criminals around the world will do anything to get your data. Passwords in particular are in high demand. It is not for nothing that databases with user data are traded for a lot of money. Hackers can do a lot with the data they get.
A hack or data leak isn’t always to blame when you lose access to your account In many cases, careless handling of one’s password is one of the reasons that scammers sometimes get it really easy. This becomes particularly clear when we look at the list of the most commonly used passwords in Germany
Most used passwords in Germany (2021)
- 123456
- password
- 12345
- hello
- 123456789
- value
- schatz
- handcraft
- Berlin
- 12345678
Do you want to know if it looks the same all over the world? ExpressVPN takes a close look at this question. You can find the results of the investigation here.
Safe and easy browsing has never been easier
Many Internet users find it difficult to create a secure password. Many companies have also noticed this and are increasingly requiring regular passwords. Who doesn’t know the error message that password must contain upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.
How to create a strong password:
- Create a password that is as long as possible (at least 8 characters are required)
- Use upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters
- Don’t use easy-to-find information like name or birthday
- Do not use the same password on multiple websites
- If you are offered 2-factor authentication, you should definitely use it
2-factor authentication is especially useful because it multiplies your security. As we all know, two is better than one. After activation, an additional security code will be sent to your mobile phone or displayed in an app, which you will need to enter to gain access to the account. This way the website can trust that you are who you say you are. Because if a hacker finds out your password, he probably won’t have access to your phone and thus no access to the user account.
Is there a way to check the security of my password?
As a rule, you don’t know if your own password is still secure or if you as a user should create a new password. Finally, in recent years there have been several reports of website and service provider data, including passwords, falling into the hands of third parties.
If you use the leaked password multiple times, hackers get excited and enjoy easy access to many user accounts. Whether your own account is affected can be found, for example, on websites such as havebeen pwned Find out. All you have to do is enter the relevant telephone number or e-mail address. It will then show whether your data has fallen into the hands of cybercriminals.
Should passwords be changed regularly?
Many companies and websites require their customers to change their passwords regularly. Unfortunately, it does not provide any additional protection, ie Study showed When only one password is used, it is much easier to remember. This removes the note on one’s desk, which can be easily seen by others.
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