9 Most Common Password Mistakes That Leave Your Accounts Vulnerable
What was the inspiration for the last password you created for an online account?
It’s human nature to reflect fondly on memorable events, dates, people or pets when it comes time to “fill in the blank” on a new account password.
But it’s those personal details that can get us in trouble when nefarious characters try to steal our information online.
Internet security company ExpressVPN recently conducted a survey that revealed many of us are making poor cybersecurity decisions by including our personal details in passwords.
In this article, I’ll explore the most common password mistakes people are making, according to ExpressVPN’s findings, as well as some other tips provided by the firm’s cybersecurity experts.
9 Most Common Personal Details in Passwords According to the Survey
Including personal details isn’t the only mistake you can make with a password, but it definitely is a common one.
According to the survey, the most common personal detail included in a password is a date of birth. That’s followed closely by other easily identifiable things such as first and last names.
The trouble with this, of course, is that an identity thief can easily compile this type of information on you and put it to use as they attempt to crack the code on your passwords.
And while it may not be such a big deal if they get the password for your favorite online message board, it could be life-changing — in a bad way — if they’re able to figure out a password to your banking, investing, Social Security or other pertinent personal financial accounts.
Here’s a look at the top nine personal details survey takers were using in their passwords.
| Ranking | Personal Detail | Passwords Containing These Details |
| 1 | Date of birth | 43.9% |
| 2 | Pet’s name | 43.8% |
| 3 | First name | 42.3% |
| 4 | Last name | 40% |
| 5 | Child’s name | 37.5% |
| 6 | Phone number | 32.2% |
| 7 | Middle name | 31.6% |
| 8 | Social Security number | 30.3% |
| 9 | Ex-partner’s name | 26.1% |
That’s Not All! We’re Also Making These Password Mistakes
Remember when I said personal details aren’t the only problem? The survey unveiled some more common missteps that people make in efforts to secure their personal information.
ExpressVPN provided these…
