Based on reporting by Davey Winder for Forbes.
A surprising number of people still use extremely weak passwords like "Michael", "Football" and even "Superman". According to reporting in Forbes, these passwords appear in many password leaks and are among the easiest for attackers to crack using automated tools.
Experts warn that using simple or predictable passwords drastically increases your risk of being hacked. Modern attackers have access to massive databases of common passwords, which they feed into cracking tools that guess combinations within seconds.
Forbes security analysts recommend:
- Using long passphrases (at least 12+ characters)
- Avoiding personal names, hobbies, or sports teams
- Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA)
The weakest passwords can be cracked in milliseconds — so strengthening yours is critical for safety online.
Source: Forbes — Davey Winder, “These 3 Passwords Can Get You Hacked — Michael, Football & Superman”