In 2023, the global and Indian cybersecurity landscape faced a common vulnerability: the use of weak passwords. A recent survey by NordPass revealed that ‘123456’ retained its unenviable title as the most popular password both worldwide and among Indian users. Notably, users demonstrated a penchant for vulnerability when it came to their streaming accounts, employing passwords lacking in robustness.
The study also highlighted the prevalence of passwords incorporating references to specific locations, with ‘India@123’ making a significant appearance on the list for Indian users. The persistently poor choice of passwords was further underscored by the inclusion of ‘admin’ and variations, emphasizing the lax approach many users take to secure their accounts.
Even with the specter of cyber threats looming large, the report disclosed that ‘password’ and its derivatives, such as ‘Pass@123’ and ‘Password@123,’ continued to be alarmingly common. The urgency of addressing these cybersecurity risks was emphasized by NordPass CTO Tomas Smalakys, who pointed out that victims might be unaware of malware infiltrating their computers, often hidden within sophisticated phishing emails. The study’s findings underscore the critical need for enhanced password security measures in the face of escalating cyber threats.