'123456' Ways Your Passwords Put Data at Risk

People today are awash in passwords. In a digital world, passwords are the keys that unlock email, social networks, bank accounts and the devices that hold irreplaceable photos and work documents — in other words, the important stuff that's worth protecting at all costs. Right? Not so fast.

A recent survey found that people cherish data — especially photos — more than they do devices. And yet, few make any real effort to keep their irreplaceable memories safe and sound. Too often, that lackadaisical attitude leads people to cut corners with the passwords that protect all of that data in the first place.

A Hint? Avoid Sequential Numbers Starting with "1"

Security firm Splashdata recently released it's annual report of the 25 most commonly stolen passwords — and the results aren't encouraging. Despite high-profile data breaches last year that affected millions of companies, including Evernote, LivingSocial and Adobe, Neiman Marcus and Target, people still tempt fate by using rote passwords that are all-too-easy to crack. 

First, a sliver of good news: people may be starting to clue into the fact that "password" isn't, well, the safest password to use. Long the No. 1 most commonly stolen login credential, "password" fell off its perch last year. The bad news? It dropped to No. 2, edged aside by "123456."

Here's the best of the worst passwords from 2013. Let's hope none of them look familiar. 

1. 123456
2. password
3. 12345678
4. qwerty
5. abc123
6. 123456789
7. 111111
8. 1234567
9. iloveyou
10. adobe123
11. 123123
12. admin
13. 1234567890
14. letmein
15. photoshop
16. 1234
17. monkey
18. shadow
19. sunshine
20. 12345
21. password1
22. princess
23. azerty
24. trustno1
25. 000000

Okay, in all fairness, keeping track of all of the passwords necessary to live in a digital world is nearly impossible. Who can blame someone for wanting to take the easy way out? Still, there's a difference between taking the easy way out and literally handing a thief the keys to the house. 

h/t Mashable

[Image via CanStock]