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NordPass research

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

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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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