3 Common Password Fails & 3 Quick Password Wins

Bad Passwords are bad for business. We’ve surveyed over 2 billion passwords and crunched the numbers to find the worst so you can see how your company’s passwords stack up. Don’t make these common mistakes but do take our advice for easy password safety wins.

Fail #1

Showing your team pride when creating a password. Worst choices:

1. Rolltide
2. Yankees
3. Steelers
4. Eagles
5. Redsox

Win #1

Constantly keep training and educating users about good security habits.

• Discourage reused, sequential, iterated, recycled or simple passwords
• Encourage use of secure password storage vaults 
• Solve access problems to discourage sharing passwords for convenience
• Increase phishing training to prevent password compromise

Fail #2

Rock doesn’t make sweet password music. Worst choices:

1. Blink182
2. Rush2112
3. Beatles
4. Blondie 
5. 8675309 (bet you said “nit-ee-iiine” when you read that)

Win #2

Add multi-factor authentication (MFA) for every user

• Weak user-made passwords are strengthened with a second identifier
• Requiring a second credential takes the sting out of stolen or compromised passwords
• MFA is a necessary compliance tool with HIPPA, PCI-CJIS, FEIECC and more
• Identifiers and tokens can be delivered via app for remote workers

Fail #3

Your heroes aren’t passwords. Worst choices:

1. Tigger 
2. Snoopy
3. Mickey
4. Superman 
5. Batman

Win #3 

Watch the Dark Web

• Sensitive personal or company data may be circulating even if you haven’t  had a breach
• Third-party partner breaches put your systems and data at risk 
• Keep an eye out for lists of your company’s potential compromised passwords
• Spot compromised passwords that staffers may be reusing on your systems 
• Find out about password and credential threats right away to mitigate them faster