Security experts warn if your password is on this list of 10 then your account can be hacked in seconds
Published on Jan 16, 2026 at 3:25 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jan 16, 2026 at 5:10 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
When it comes to making a password, you need to make a secure choice – but security experts have warned that your account is at risk of being hacked if you’ve chosen one of these 10 words.
You’ve no doubt heard numerous tips on coming up with an effective password – including numbers, special characters, etc.
But the password manager NordPass has compiled a list of passwords that could be cracked in a matter of seconds.
So if your choice has wound up on this list, take this as your warning.
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If your password is on this list, it might be time to change it
Some people have a process when it comes to selecting their passwords – some go for the same one with a random assortment of numbers behind it, while others rely on the good old random password generator.
First and foremost, we need to remember our own passwords.
But they also need to be airtight against hackers wanting to gain access to our accounts.

And if your password is on the list compiled by NordPass, then it’s failing in the second regard.
So here’s the list:
1) 123456
2) 123456789
3) qwerty
4) password
5) 12345
6) qwerty12
7) 1q2w3e
8) 12345678
9) 111111
10) 1234567890
This is based on an analysis of more than 15 billion passwords, in which only two billion were found to be unique.
That’s 15 percent of all those analyzed.
“Unfortunately, passwords keep getting weaker, and people still don’t maintain proper password hygiene,” Jonas Karklys, the CEO of NordPass, said.

“It’s important to understand that passwords are the gateway to our digital lives, and with us spending more and more time online, it’s becoming enormously important to take better care of our cybersecurity.”
So with that in mind, what should you be doing to get a strong password?
How to keep your account secure
Some tips seem like pretty basic stuff – use a long word, use a secure manager, and a generator.
There’s also the often-repeated tip of using numbers and symbols alongside an array of lowercase and upper letters.
The things to avoid include obvious words like ‘password’, or any words that bear a direct relation to your life, for instance, your mother’s maiden name.

And not that you need us to tell you this, but don’t tell people your password.
This won’t be the first time you’ll have been given some tech tips.
It feels like the internet is full of them these days.
There’s guides on how to switch out Siri for ChatGPT, or why you should think twice about charging your phone overnight.
Even when you think you’re doing something right with your gadgets – like swiping apps closed – it turns out that your efforts may be in vain.
It’s always best to check with a professional, right?
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