Millions of Britons are leaving their digital lives exposed to cybercriminals by using dangerously simple passwords, a new security study has confirmed.
The UK's Most Common Password Fails
Research from cybersecurity firm NordPass has uncovered the nation's most frequently used and weakest passwords. Topping the list of security faux pas is the incredibly basic 'admin', followed by the numerically simple '123456' and the blatantly obvious 'password'.
This revelation comes as experts warn that using such predictable codes allows hackers to breach accounts in seconds. The full top ten list of worst passwords in the UK makes for alarming reading:
- admin
- 123456
- password
- 12345678
- 123456789
- Password1
- Password
- 12345
- Lennon11
- 1234567890
A Widespread Security Problem Across All Ages
Contrary to assumptions that older generations might be less tech-savvy with their password choices, NordPass found that poor password hygiene affects everyone. The research shows a striking uniformity in vulnerability across all age groups, with sequences like '12345' and '123456' consistently appearing as top choices regardless of the user's generation.
There is a slight silver lining, however. The study noted that more people are beginning to incorporate symbols and capital letters into their passwords. Unfortunately, this minor improvement is often undermined by predictable patterns.
Popular variations now include 'P@ssw0rd,' 'Admin@123,' and 'Abcd@1234' – which, while appearing more complex, remain dangerously easy for cybercriminals to crack.
How to Fortify Your Digital Defences
To properly secure your accounts, security professionals recommend choosing a complicated, uncommon word and liberally mixing in symbols, capital letters, and numbers throughout, rather than just at the beginning or end.
Karolis Arbaciauskas, Head of Product at NordPass, commented on the findings, stating: "Generally speaking, despite all efforts in cybersecurity education and digital awareness over the years, data reveals only minor improvements in password hygiene."
He highlighted the growing importance of strong passwords as a temporary measure, noting: "The world is slowly moving towards passkeys — a new passwordless authentication method based on biometric data — but in the interim, until passkeys become ubiquitous, strong passwords are very important. Especially since around 80% of data breaches are caused by compromised, weak, and reused passwords."
With cyberattacks intensifying, the message from security experts is clear: if your password appears on this list or follows similar simple patterns, changing it immediately is not just recommended – it's essential for your digital safety.
