Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

We Now Know the Top 25 Worst Passwords People Used This Year, and Donald Trump Just Made the List

We Now Know the Top 25 Worst Passwords People Used This Year, and Donald Trump Just Made the List
Getty Images

You don't use these do you?

We all know people who aren't too computer-savvy, and chances are they're guilty of using weak passwords, too.

Each year, SplashData, which specializes in in security applications, evaluates more than 5 million passwords leaked on the internet. In compiling 2018's list, their team found that computer users continue to use the same, easily guessable passwords, placing themselves at high risk of being hacked or having their identities stolen.


Once again, passwords like "123456" and "password" made this year's list. The newest addition? President Donald Trump.

That's right: President Trump made his debut with the password, “donald",” the year's 23rd most frequently used password.

Sorry, Mr. President, but this is not fake news – using your name or any common name as a password is a dangerous decision,” said Morgan Slain, CEO of SplashData, Inc. “Hackers have great success using celebrity names, terms from pop culture and sports, and simple keyboard patterns to break into accounts online because they know so many people are using those easy-to-remember combinations.”

SplashData releases a new list each year as part of its efforts to encourage stronger—and therefore more responsible—password usage.

"Our hope by publishing this list each year is to convince people to take steps to protect themselves online,” Slain said, adding:

“It’s a real head-scratcher that with all the risks known, and with so many highly publicized hacks such as Marriott and the National Republican Congressional Committee, that people continue putting themselves at such risk year-after-year.”

The complete list is below:

    1. 123456 (position unchanged)
    2. password (position unchanged)
    3. 123456789 (up three spots)
    4. 12345678 (down one spot)
    5. 12345 (position unchanged)
    6. 111111 (new addition to the list)
    7. 1234567 (up one spot)
    8. sunshine (new addition to the list)
    9. qwerty (down five spots)
    10. iloveyou (position unchanged)
    11. princess (new addition to the list)
    12. admin (down one spot)
    13. welcome (down one spot)
    14. 666666 (new addition to the list)
    15. abc123 (position unchanged)
    16. football(down seven spots)
    17. 123123 (position unchanged)
    18. monkey (down five spots)
    19. 654321 (new addition to the list)
    20. !@#$%^&* (new addition to the list)
    21. charlie (new addition to the list)
    22. aa123456 (new addition to the list)
    23. donald (new addition to the list)
    24. password1 (new addition to the list)
    25. qwerty123 (new addition to the list)

Why do people continue to use weak passwords despite repeated warnings and data breaches of big firms like Facebook?

The answer is simple: Many computer users report that they find it difficult to remember the long passwords they've been told to use. Others are creatures of habit who've used the same password for years across multiple accounts.

For what it's worth, people have always been able to laugh at their password woes.

So what can you do?

You can:

  • Make your password long. The recommended limit is eight characters. If your password is between 14 and 25 characters, you're well on your way to being far more secure.
  • Substitute characters. (Use the number "0" instead of the letter "O" for instance.)
  • Use a combination of letters and numbers, upper and lower case and symbols such as the exclamation point or question mark.
  • Never reuse passwords on other accounts.
  • Avoid using easilyidentifiable information such as names, birth dates, pet or partner names as your passwords.
  • And, of course, change your passwords frequently.

More from News

Joe Jonas
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images; @mr.worldwide305pitbull/TikTok

Joe Jonas Hilariously Chimes In After Couple's Argument About Him Goes Viral On TikTok

Joe Jonas is out here making sure that people in love stay in love—including preserving other people’s marriages.

The singer, whose upcoming album is called Music for People who Believe in Love, intervened in the comments section of a video of a married couple fighting over, of all things, whether there was a clause in their marriage about Joe Jonas.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Tammy Bruce
C-SPAN

State Dept. Spokesperson Learns In Real Time That Marco Rubio Is Now National Security Advisor In Bonkers Video

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce was left reeling when she learned in real time that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be the new acting national security advisor after Michael Waltz stepped down and was named U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

Waltz was recently at the center of what became known as "Signalgate" after he invitedAtlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg into a Signal chat with high-level Trump administration officials, particularly Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in which they discussed military strategy surrounding war strikes in Yemen.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tim Walz; Michael Waltz
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Tim Walz Goes Viral For Hilariously Shady Reaction To Mike Waltz's White House Ouster

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz went viral for mocking now-former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz after the Trump administration announced he'd be leaving his position weeks after he was implicated in the Signal group chat scandal.

Waltz found himself at the center of what became known as "Signalgate" after he invitedAtlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg into a Signal chat with high-level Trump administration officials, particularly Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, discussing military strategy surrounding war strikes in Yemen.

Keep ReadingShow less
group of men; Silverback gorilla
Sean Murphy/Getty Images; JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images

Viral Tweet Claiming That 100 Unarmed Men Could Beat A Single Gorilla Sparks Heated Debate

In the early morning hours of Friday, April 25, X user DreamChasnMike posited the outcome of a showdown between Homo sapiens sapiens and one of our closest relatives.

Or rather 100 men versus one of our fellow primates.

Keep ReadingShow less
GOP Lawmaker Dragged After Admitting He Has No Evidence Of Student 'Furries' Using Litter Boxes

GOP Lawmaker Dragged After Admitting He Has No Evidence Of Student 'Furries' Using Litter Boxes

Texas Republican state Representative Stan Gerdes admitted on Wednesday that a bill he sponsored served no purpose and addressed an issue that never existed in American schools.

His bill, HB54, would ban "furries" from classrooms. Furries are a subculture that enjoys dressing up and acting like non-human animals.

Keep ReadingShow less