Ever year SplashData compiles a list of the most common passwords used by hackers and Identity thieves to separate you from your personal information. You will be surprised, as the average user usually has one or more of these in use as we speak.

The following list is the top 25 and their rankings from 2012.  If you see a password or a variant that you use on this list beware, as these are loaded into most standard hacking libraries used by the bad guys. In short if its on this list “Change it Now”.

1. password (Unchanged)
2, 123456 (Unchanged)
3. 12345678 (Unchanged)
4. abc123 (Up 1)
5. qwerty (Down 1)
6. monkey (Unchanged)
7. letmein (Up 1)
8. dragon (Up 2)
9. 111111 (Up 3)
10. baseball (Up 1)
11. iloveyou (Up 2)
12. trustno1 (Down 3)
13. 1234567 (Down 6)
14. sunshine (Up 1)
15. master (Down 1)
16. 123123 (Up 4)
17. welcome (New)
18. shadow (Up 1)
19. ashley (Down 3)
20. football (Up 5)
21. jesus (New)
22. michael (Up 2)
23. ninja (New)
24. mustang (New)
25. password1 (New)

Again these are the just the top 25 and there are many more commonly used passwords. Remember if its too easy to remember it’s too easy. I will publish a guide that will help you create a more secure password and will l will publish it here.