If your password is on this list, you better change it ASAP. The 25 worst passwords of 2015 have been released by Los Gatos, Calif.-based SplashData.
The company, which makes password management software, compiles the annual list from the most common passwords leaked online each year — more than two million in 2015.
Think 1qaz2wsx is a strong password? Think again. It's based on the first two columns of keys on a standard keyboard, and it made No. 15 on this year's list.
It was among several new and longer passwords on the list for the first time, along with qwertyuiop and 1234567890. They suggest users and websites may be making more of an effort to make their passwords more secure, SplashData said.
"But they are each based on simple patterns that would be easily guessable by hackers," the company added in a news release, making their extra length "virtually worthless as a security measure."
Of course, not everyone is even making an effort.....
THE ORIGINAL STORY (NEWS RELEASE) IS https://www.teamsid.com/worst-passwords-2015/
SplashData’s fifth annual “Worst Passwords List” shows people continue putting themselves at risk
While longer passwords debut on this year’s list of most commonly used passwords, they are not necessarily more secure
LOS GATOS, CA – SplashData has announced the 2015 edition of its annual “Worst Passwords List” highlighting the insecure password habits of Internet users. “123456” and “password” once again reign supreme as the most commonly used passwords, as they have since SplashData’s first list in 2011, demonstrating how people’s choices for passwords remain consistently risky.
In SplashData’s fifth annual report, compiled from more than 2 million leaked passwords during the year, some new and longer passwords made their debut – perhaps showing an effort by both websites and web users to be more secure. However, the longer passwords are so simple as to make their extra length virtually worthless as a security measure.
The latter link is accompanied by a great illustration.
Here is a recap of the Top 10, as per the link above.
| Rank | Password | Change from 2014 |
| 1 | 123456 | Unchanged |
| 2 | password | Unchanged |
| 3 | 12345678 | Up 1 |
| 4 | qwerty | Up 1 |
| 5 | 12345 | Down 2 |
| 6 | 123456789 | Unchanged |
| 7 | football | Up 3 |
| 8 | 1234 | Down 1 |
| 9 | 1234567 | Up 2 |
| 10 | baseball | Down 2 |
