As unbelievable as it may seem, millions of people worldwide still use passwords like “123456,” “admin,” or “password” to protect their accounts. And no, it’s not a myth. A recent report analyzing over 2 billion leaked passwords during 2025 reveals that weak combinations still dominate the internet.
This pattern confirms what cybersecurity experts have warned for years: convenience continues to outweigh security, and users are still not taking basic steps to protect personal, financial, or work-related data.
The Top Most Common Passwords
The global study shows that consecutive numeric sequences remain user favorites. In the 2025 ranking, “123456” leads with over 7.6 million appearances, followed by variants like “12345678,” “123456789,” “admin,” and “password.”
The top 10 includes:
- 123456
- 12345678
- 123456789
- Admin
- Password
- 1234
- Aa123456
- 12345
- 123
- 1234567890
This list proves that most passwords lack complexity and are extremely easy to crack using automated tools employed by modern cybercriminals.
Even repetitive strings like “111111”, or common words like “welcome” or “qwerty”, are still widely used. In many cases, attackers can test thousands of combinations per second until they find a valid one.
Pop Culture and Predictable Passwords
The report also highlights the influence of pop culture. Words like “Minecraft,” “Batman,” “Liverpool,” or “India@123” appear frequently, reflecting users’ tendency to create passwords based on personal interests, brands, or familiar places.
Even though they may seem more unique, these passwords are still predictable — hackers often include them in attack dictionaries with variations in capitalization, numbers, or symbols.
Learn more: Hacker Leaks TikTok Passwords of Mexican Users on Telegram
Why We Still Use Weak Passwords
This trend stems from two main factors: convenience and lack of awareness. People prefer passwords that are easy to remember, even if they’re insecure. According to the report, 1 in 4 passwords is purely numeric, and almost 40% include the sequence “123.”
Supporting stats:
- 38.6% of the most common passwords contain “123”
- 3.9% include variations of “password” or “pass”
- 2.7% use “admin”
- 1.6% include “qwerty”
This lack of complexity makes millions of users easy targets. Hackers don’t need to be experts — free brute-force tools or leaked password databases from the dark web are enough to break into hundreds of accounts in seconds.
The Risk of Reusing Passwords
One of the biggest risks isn’t just using a weak password — it’s reusing it across multiple platforms. If an attacker gets your password from a leaked site, they can try it on email, social media, online banking, and more.
This technique, called credential stuffing, has caused millions of breaches in recent years. A weak or reused password becomes a master key for identity theft, financial loss, or corporate espionage.
At TecnetOne, we’ve seen how this affects both individuals and companies — a single compromised password can open access to sensitive information or an entire corporate network.
How Insecure Are the Most Common Passwords?
The analysis shows that:
- 65.8% of leaked passwords have fewer than 12 characters
- 6.9% are less than 8 characters
- Only 3.2% exceed 16 characters (the minimum recommended for resistance to brute-force attacks)
In practice, this means:
- “123456” can be cracked in under a second
- “password” takes about two seconds
- Even “Admin123” can be broken in less than a minute
These stats make it clear: short or repetitive passwords no longer provide real protection.
Safer Passwords: Practical Tips
To truly protect yourself, new habits are essential. From TecnetOne, we recommend:
- Use long and unique passwords: at least 12 characters with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
- Avoid obvious patterns: birthdays, names, “admin,” or “password” are a no-go
- Never reuse passwords: use a password manager to keep track
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA): even if your password is stolen, the extra code adds protection
- Update passwords regularly: every 3–6 months reduces prolonged exposure
- Be cautious with suspicious emails or messages: phishing remains a major credential theft vector
These simple steps drastically reduce the likelihood of attackers accessing your accounts or corporate systems.
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Beyond Passwords: The Future of Authentication
Traditional passwords are gradually being replaced by stronger authentication methods, such as passkeys, already adopted by Google, Microsoft, and Apple.
Passkeys don’t require memorizing complex combinations. Instead, they use biometrics, local PINs, or trusted devices for secure, password-free access.
While mass adoption is still pending, this is the future of digital security. Until then, passwords remain the first line of defense, and making them secure is your responsibility.
Changing Habits: True Digital Protection
Cyberattacks don’t always begin with a mysterious hacker in the shadows — they often start with a weak password. And although defense systems are evolving, the truth is that digital security is only as strong as its weakest link: the user.
At TecnetOne, we stress that cybersecurity isn’t just technical — it’s a mindset. Creating strong passwords, keeping them secure, and updating them regularly is a simple practice that can prevent millions in losses, identity theft, or data breaches.
So the next time you're tempted to type “123456,” remember: those few seconds of convenience could cost you everything.
