password123

Password123 is a commonly used weak password consisting of the word "password" followed by the digits "123." It appears in password datasets and security reports as one of the most frequently chosen credentials, illustrating predictable patterns that attackers can exploit.

Security assessment: The password has low entropy and a highly recognizable structure. The capitalization of the first letter offers only a minor variation, while the overall pattern remains easy to guess. It is susceptible to dictionary attacks and straightforward brute-force attempts, making it unsafe for protecting online accounts.

Prevalence and impact: Password123 has historically ranked highly in breach analyses and leaked password collections. Accounts protected by this credential are at elevated risk of unauthorized access, particularly if the password is reused across multiple services or not paired with additional authentication measures.

Best practices: Use long, unique passphrases rather than short, common strings. Aim for 12 to 16 random characters or more, incorporating a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Consider a password manager to generate and store complex credentials securely, and enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible to add an extra layer of defense. Avoid predictable patterns and common phrases to reduce the likelihood of successful attacks.