Be honest, do you still use a password like “12345” or “password123”? If so, you’re not alone. But that doesn’t mean it’s acceptable. Despite years of warnings from IT professionals, weak passwords remain incredibly common. And that’s a serious issue, because they’re one of the easiest ways for cyber criminals to access business systems and sensitive data.
You’d be surprised how many businesses still rely on passwords that can be cracked in seconds. Studies continue to show that passwords like “123456”, “123456789”, “password”, and even “qwerty123” are still widely used. These aren’t just careless choices, they’re essentially open invitations for hackers. It’s not only large corporations making these mistakes either; small and medium sized businesses are just as guilty. Unfortunately, when they suffer a breach, they often feel the impact more severely, lacking the resources to bounce back quickly.
Even a single compromised password can expose your emails, documents, finances, and client data. The consequences can be devastating, not only financially but also in terms of reputation. You might assume your business has nothing worth stealing, but that’s a dangerous misconception. Whether you’re a team of five or fifty, your systems contain valuable data. Cyber criminals don’t target just the big players, they look for easy wins, and weak passwords are the easiest win of all.
Now, don’t think you’re in the clear just because you’re not using “123456”. Many people still use their name, email address, or even “iloveyou” as passwords. It might feel personal or harmless, but to a hacker, it’s an easy way in. What can you do? Start with strong, unique, and randomly generated passwords, nothing obvious or predictable. A password manager can take care of remembering them for you, and enabling two factor authentication adds another layer of protection. Better still, consider exploring passkeys, which use biometrics or secure devices to log in without the need for traditional passwords. It’s a simple step that could save you from a serious security breach. If you’re unsure where to start, I’d be happy to help you review your current setup.
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