Top passwords used by business executives
Recent research reveals that high-ranking business executives and company owners tend to use weak and easy-to-crack passwords, which significantly increases the chances of a large-scale data breach. We have compiled a detailed list of top passwords used by business executives. Explore it now.
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Methodology
The list of passwords was compiled in partnership with independent researchers specializing in research of cybersecurity incidents.
Password research
NordPass strives for a safer online environment. We are dedicated to raising awareness with our research endeavors. Previous studies covering password habits include Top 200 Most Common Passwords and The Misfortunate passwords of Fortune 500 companies.
Who’s affected?
The research focused on the poor password habits of high-ranking business executives and company owners. The findings have been categorized into four groups that represent different executive roles.
CEO
Passwords used by CEOs of a company.
C-level executives
Passwords used by CMOs, CROs, CTOs, CFOs, and other C-level executives.
Business Owners
Passwords used by organization owners and co-owners.
Management
Passwords used by managerial-level team members.
Top Industries which are breached
Technology
Finance
Construction
Healthcare
Hospitality
Media and Marketing
Consumer goods
Consulting
Non profit
Entertainment
Automotive
Real estate
Interesting Findings
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Top passwords
The study reveals that passwords such as 123456, password, and 123456789, are as popular among high-ranking executives as they are among ordinary internet users.
Most affected countries
France and the United Kingdom were the two countries among the most affected by data breaches. Research shows that France had over 200M passwords breached while the UK's number stands at 600M.
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Most popular names
Research shows that many high-ranking business executives prefer to use names as their passwords. Among the most popular name-themed passwords are: Tiffany, (100,534), Charlie (33,699), Michael (10,647), and Jordan (10,472).
Animal and mythical creatures
Besides names, business leaders showed love for animals and mythical creatures when it came to passwords. Dragon (11,926) and monkey (11,675) were ranked high among the top animal-themed passwords used by high-ranking executives
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Top 50 passwords
Explore the top 50 most common passwords used by C-level executives, managers, and business owners.
Findings
Secure your organization with NordPass Business
Businesses face major risks of data breaches as high-ranking executives and business owners often struggle with password security.
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What causes corporate data breaches?
Today, corporate data breaches are more prevalent than ever. Here are a few of the leading causes of a breach.
Weak passwords
According to a Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), 80% of data breaches are the result of weak and easy-to-crack passwords. Using simple and easy-to-remember passwords is a risk not worth taking.
Reused passwords
Using a single password for multiple business-related accounts puts those accounts at a huge risk. If a bad actor can get a hold of that single password, every account that the password protects can be compromised simultaneously.
Risky password-sharing habits
These days, password sharing is a part of the corporate reality. However, sharing passwords over insecure channels such as email can lead to a data breach.
Phishing
Phishing scams are a type of social engineering where a bad actor attempts to trick unsuspecting users with fraudulent email messages that are designed to appear legitimate. According to Verizon’s 2021 DBIR, around 25% of all data breaches involve phishing.
Human error
Reports indicate that up to 80% of data breaches are related or directly caused by human error. Often a simple mistake that could be prevented by cybersecurity awareness training leads to a breach.
Poor cybersecurity infrastructure
To this day, many businesses fail to establish a secure digital infrastructure. Unfortunately, bad actors love taking advantage of poorly protected systems.
Security tips for your organization
These days, a business password manager is an essential tool for any organization looking to ensure a sturdy security posture. With a corporate password manager, companies can significantly improve password security and lower the risk of falling victim to a data breach.
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Human error remains the leading cause of data breaches and other cybersecurity-related risks. Establishing comprehensive cybersecurity training sessions for your employees will improve your overall security stance.
Multi-factor authentication, also simply known as MFA, is an extra layer of security. Essentially, MFA is an authentication method that uses two or more mechanisms to validate the user’s identity rather thanon just a username and a password.
Fortify your corporate security with NordPass Business
Let NordPass take care of your business passwords.
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