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In a blog post, Lookout said that 80% of consumers, on average, got their e-mail access leaked onto the dark web.
Do you think your password is strong enough to protect your online data? It's possible that your default password is easier to guess than you think.
A recent report from mobile security company Lookout indicated a list of 20 passwords most commonly found in the leaked account information on the dark web. Most of them are easily recalled and typed.
According to online password manager NordPass, people tend to use passwords that are easier to remember because the average person has more than 100 distinct online accounts protected by passwords.
However, simple passwords may give hackers easy access to one's online account and information.
How Strong is Your Password?
In a blog post about cybersecurity warnings, Lookout said that 80% of consumers, on average, got their email access leaked onto the dark web.
You may check out if your password is in this list of the ones most commonly seen on the dark web due to data breaches:
123456
123456789
Qwerty
Password
12345
12345678
111111
1234567
123123
Qwerty123
1q2w3e
1234567890
Qwertyuiop
Iloveyou
666666
DEFAULT
0
Abc123
654321
123321
As per CNBC, cybersecurity experts recommend using stronger passwords. If your password is on the list above, change it to something more difficult to guess. You may choose something longer than the minimum number of required characters and utilize unusual characters - such as punctuation marks or other symbols - in place of letters and numbers.
National Institute of Standards and Technology of the U.S. Commerce Department also recommends using multifactor authentication to keep your online account safe.
It can be more difficult to regain control of a compromised email account per PC Mag. You'll need to contact the email provider and verify that you're the rightful owner of the account. Of course, if the hacker changes your password, you won't be able to contact the provider using your usual email. Hence, it's recommended to have multiple email addresses, each of which serves as an alternate contact email for the other.
Read Also: Hacker Group Anonymous Takes Russia to Cyber War, Disables State Websites [FULL DETAILS]
A Timely Concern
The concern about cybersecurity arises amid the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Experts say that there is a surge in cyberattacks globally. Hence, many U.S. financial institutions fear that hackers could attack them.
The FBI and US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recently advised critical infrastructure firms to be alert following data-destroying cyberattacks in Ukraine before the Russian invasion.
According to a report by CNN, cybersecurity experts discovered a data-wiping hacking tool on hundreds of systems belonging to the Ukrainian government and banking institutions within hours before Russian forces initiated an invasion of Ukraine early Thursday. The malicious code is intended to wipe data from computers and render them inaccessible, which could obstruct businesses attempting to stay online during a crisis.
Authorities advise the public that destructive malware can present a "direct threat" to the daily operations of a company that could affect data and other important assets. "Further disruptive cyberattacks against organizations in Ukraine are likely to occur and may unintentionally spill over to organizations in other countries," the FBI and US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said.
Related Article: Belarus President Warns US, West Sanctions Are Pushing Russia to World War 3: "Nuclear War Is the End of Everything"
