Is your Password Safe? Think Again.

markhope61
Apr 30
5 min read

In an increasingly digital world where everything from your finances to your fridge can be connected to the internet, the humble password is still one of your most important lines of defence. But not all passwords are created equal.

Why Are Passwords Still So Important?

Passwords are often the first and only barrier between a hacker and your most sensitive data. From banking apps to health records to business logins, a weak password can be all it takes for someone to access your digital life.

You might think you are safe because you have nothing to hide or because you are not a high-profile target. Unfortunately, that is exactly what cybercriminals are counting on. They are not targeting individuals. They are targeting everyone.

Most Used Passwords in the UK in 2025

These are the 20 most common passwords used in the United Kingdom this year. If you spot yours on this list, it is time for a change.

123456
password
qwerty
liverpool
123456789
arsenal
12345678
12345
abc123
chelsea
letmein
monkey
football
111111
charlie
sunshine
buster
thomas
superman
123123

Many of these follow common patterns. They include names of sports teams, sequential numbers, or dictionary words that can be easily guessed by automated tools.

Why Do Passwords Matter?

If you are using one of these passwords, it is not just a personal risk. It could be a risk to your workplace, your family and even your finances. Hackers do not need to guess your password. They just need to try the most common ones.

Password Lists

There are countless websites and data dumps online containing millions of real passwords gathered from past data breaches. Hackers use these lists as part of brute force or password spraying attacks to gain access to accounts in seconds.

What Is Password Spraying?

Password spraying is when attackers use a list of common passwords and attempt them across thousands of accounts. They do not care whose account they crack as long as they get in. Using a weak or common password makes their job easier.

What Other Tactics Do Hackers Use?

There are a few, a hacker will often look at:

Sequential Numbers and Patterns

Passwords like 123456 or abcdef are just asking for trouble. They are easy for bots to try and easier still for humans to guess.

Common Words and Phrases

Passwords such as password, letmein or football are easily guessed because they are widely used. They often appear in the top password lists every year.

Personal Information

Using your child’s name, your pet’s name or your favourite football team might feel memorable but it also makes your password highly guessable.

Important Dates

Your birthday or anniversary is not a secret to someone who can browse your social media profile. If it is public, it is vulnerable.

Reused Passwords

Reusing passwords across multiple sites is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. If one site gets hacked and your password is exposed, every other account using that password is now at risk.

How Can I Check if My Password Has Been Exposed?

A helpful resource is Have I Been Pwned. This website allows you to search your email address or password to see if it has appeared in any known data breaches.

If your password shows up there, change it immediately. Even if it has not, but it appears on common password lists, it is worth updating.

Beware of Phishing

Even the strongest password is no use if you hand it over willingly. Phishing attacks are fraudulent emails or messages designed to trick you into giving away login details. Always double check the sender and never click on suspicious links. If in doubt, go directly to the website rather than using a link from the message.

If you get an email that looks like it is susipicous, why not report it report@phishing.gov.uk.

Want to know more, check out the UK Gov page: Avoid and report internet scams and phishing: Report internet scams and phishing.

Password Advice in the Age of AI

Artificial Intelligence is now being used to guess passwords faster and more efficiently. Machine learning can identify and predict human password behaviour. This means weak passwords can be cracked in seconds rather than hours.

AI can also be used in phishing campaigns to create more believable fake messages. That is why it is more important than ever to use strong passwords and stay alert.

How to Create a Strong Password

According to guidance from GCHQ, a strong password should:

Be made up of three random words. For example: windoworangeguitar
Be easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess.
Not contain personal information like names, dates or places.
Be unique for each site or app you use.

If you need to change your password for any reason, GCHQ (Government Communication Headquarters) have produced a handy guidance leaflet. You can download the PDF from the GCHQ website or via this link: Password_guidance_-_simplifying_your_approach.pdf.

Consider using a password manager to keep track of your passwords securely.

Final Thoughts

Your password is not just a key to your email or your Netflix account. It is a gateway to your entire digital identity. Taking the time to create strong, unique passwords could be the difference between staying safe and becoming another statistic.

It is a small habit with a massive impact.

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