News: Hacked? Singapore workers urged to boost password security

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Hacked? Singapore workers urged to boost password security

Is your password a digital fortress – or just an open door inviting hackers in?
Hacked? Singapore workers urged to boost password security

SINGAPORE – In the year 2025, are you still using 123456 for your password?

Good cybersecurity habits start with the basic step of using strong, unique passwords, according to language learning specialist Preply, which recently released a study on the most popular passwords in Singapore.

Common and predictable passwords were seen as the culprit in 170 million accounts breached worldwide.

Even in digitally advanced countries, users continue to input commonly hacked passwords.

Using weak passwords is akin to leaving your front door not just unlocked, but wide open with a neon sign inviting intruders in.

In a hyperconnected city like Singapore – where personal and financial information is often just a few clicks away – reinforcing digital defences with robust, unique passwords is more critical than ever, the Preply study suggested.

Also Read: Cybersecurity: Your workforce, your firewall

The usual suspects in password breaches

The most commonly hacked password in Singapore is still 123456, appearing in 42.5 million data breaches and taking less than a second to crack.

Another offender, 123456789, fares no better. Despite being longer, its predictable numerical pattern makes it just as easy to break. This password has been exposed 18.3 million times, reinforcing the false sense of security that longer but unoriginal sequences provide.

Coming in third is “qwerty,” the go-to choice for those who take the path of least resistance. While it might be convenient to type, it’s an open invitation for cybercriminals, appearing in 10.7 million data breaches.

Perhaps the most ironic entry is “password” itself. A textbook example of what not to do, it has been cracked 10.4 million times, underscoring the fundamental mistake of using obvious words that practically roll out the red carpet for hackers.

Also Read: Hacked and exposed: The most devastating data breaches of 2024

Examples of Singapore’s most commonly hacked passwords

  • 123456 as seen in 42.5 million breaches
  • qwerty (10.7 million)
  • password (10.4 million)
  • 111111 (5 million)
  • abc123 (4 million)
  • 123123 (3.9 million)
  • iloveyou (2.4 million)
  • 666666 (1.6 million)

Going for unique and complex passwords

Apart from the uniqueness of alphanumeric combinations, the length of a password can also make it more robust and less easily hackable. However, 96% of Singapore’s most hacked passwords are under 12 characters, making them alarmingly easy to crack.

To counteract this risk, many platforms now enforce stricter password policies. For example, Apple mandates a minimum of eight characters, requiring a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers to bolster security, Preply said.

When it comes to password security, length and complexity are your best shields. A well-constructed password should be like an intricate lock – hard to crack and unique to you.

Combining uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols significantly enhances security, making your credentials a much tougher nut to crack.

Another tip, according to language expert Yolanda del Peso, is to use characters from other languages.

“When you add non-Latin characters – such as Cyrillic, Greek, or Chinese symbols – you introduce elements that are less common in typical password-cracking algorithms, making it harder for hackers to predict or brute-force,” del Peso said.

“Password-cracking tools often rely on common word lists and dictionaries across popular languages, but they’re less effective when facing a password with unfamiliar characters and scripts. However, it’s important to ensure your characters are compatible, as not all systems and devices support every character type.”

Cybercriminals are always striving to stay one step ahead of netizens, so staying vigilant is non-negotiable.

Workers in Singapore must treat passwords like a digital vault key, not a Post-it note scribble, the study suggested.

A little extra effort in crafting a strong, unique password today could save you from a world of trouble tomorrow.

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Topics: Technology, #Cybersecurity

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