Skip to main content
SolarWinds MSP
  • Login
  • Support
SolarWinds MSP
  • Products
    • Remote Monitoring & Management Protect your customers with a platform from the global leader in monitoring and management.
    • Backup & Recovery Manage backup for servers, workstations, applications, and business documents from one cloud-based dashboard.
    • Mail Protection & Archiving Shield email from spam and malware, including zero-hour threats.
    • PSA & Ticketing Manage ticketing, reporting, and billing to increase helpdesk efficiency.
    • Automated Threat Monitoring Detect, respond to, and report on threats across your managed networks.
    • Remote Support Help support customers and their devices with remote support tools designed to be fast and powerful.
  • Solutions

    I'm looking to...

    I'm looking for...

    • Manage my MSP Business More Efficiently
    • Manage my IT Department More Efficiently
    • Layered Security
    • Data-Driven Insights
    • Cross-Platform Support
  • Resources

    Webinars & Events

    Resource Center

    • Ask the N-Central Experts
    • Daily Live Demos
    • Backup Foundations Training
    • RMM Foundations Training
    • Upcoming Events
    • Upcoming Webinars
    • Resource Library
      • Case Studies
      • Product Information
      • eBooks
      • White Papers
      • Infographics
    • SolarWinds MSP Free Tools
    • GDPR Resource Center
    • Security Resource Center
    • MSP Institute
    • MSP Advice Project
  • About
    • Contact
    • Worldwide sales and support
    • Careers
    • Awards and Recognition
    • Get A Quote
    • Newsroom
      • Press Releases
      • In The News
      • Media Contacts
    • Leadership Team
    • Legal
      • Cookie Policy
      • Privacy Notice
      • Software Services Agreement
      • Terms of Use
      • Backup Fair Use Policy
    • Security
      • SolarWinds Security Statement
      • Vendor Data Protection Requirements
    • Support
  • Blog
  • Contact Sales
    • Get A Quote
    • General Inquiry
  • TRY NOW
    • SolarWinds RMM
    • SolarWinds Backup
    • MSP Manager
    • SolarWinds Mail Assure
    • SolarWinds Risk Intelligence
    • SolarWinds Take Control
Filter Blogs
  • Filter by:
  • MSP Business
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • Security-series
    • Best Practices
    • Business
    • Business Growth
    • Business Risk
    • Cloud Computing
    • Customer Service
    • Cybersecurity
    • Data
    • GDPR
    • Internet of Things
    • IT Support
    • ITSM
    • LOGICcards
    • Machine Learning
    • Mail
    • Managed Services
    • Marketing
    • Mobile
    • Networking
    • Operations
    • Podcast
    • Product
    • PSA
    • Remote Management
    • Research & Trends
    • Risk Intelligence
    • Security
    • Security Vlog
    • Service Desk
    • Services & Support
    • Tips & Advice
    • Training
Home Blog MSP Business "123456" - Now the World's Worst Password
MSP Business

"123456" - Now the World's Worst Password

By Scott Calonico
3 March, 2014

password on piece of paperDo you insist that your clients all use complex passwords, or do you bow to the pressure of relaxing the rules?

If you’ve been in the IT business for any length of time, you’ve inevitably come across clients who don’t really take password security very seriously. Some individuals genuinely believe that the risk of security breaches is overstated. It’s fair to say they are mistaken.

You’ve probably come across all kinds of attitudes towards passwords. Some IT consultants even encounter company bosses who insist that all passwords (sometimes with the exception of their own) are exactly the same. These bosses are completely blind to the fact that a security breach is often as likely to be caused by a disgruntled ex staff member as someone outside the organisation.

If you’ve still got clients who are stubborn about the importance of password restrictions, the most recent list of “bad passwords” should give you some ammunition to help convince them that they should take things more sriously.

Here are the most commonly used “bad” passwords of 2013, as compiled by SplashData:

1.      123456

2.      password

3.      12345678

4.      qwerty

5.      abc123

6.      123456789

7.      111111

8.      1234567

9.      iloveyou

10.    adobe123

People certainly like those number-based passwords don’t they? While it’s pleasing to finally see the techie’s old favourite of “TrustNoOne” disappear from the top ten, the presence of “password” at number two is rather depressing.

As an IT professional, you’re probably in a position of trust where you know quite a few of your clients’ passwords. Are any of them using any from the top ten list? Even worse, are YOU? If so, shame on you! Go and change them now!

Some Helpful Alternatives

The usual objection to complex passwords is predictable: “How am I ever going to remember them?”

If you’ve ever implemented compulsory complex passwords on a network and stayed present when the change requests kicked in, you’ve probably suffered a tirade of abuse.

The thing is, it’s not really that difficult to create a complex password that is easy to remember. Here are some ideas, both for you and for your clients:

  • Use a string of text with a full stop on the end.
  • Use a memorable word but place punctuation marks between every letter.
  • Use the registration number of a first car, and put a punctuation mark at the beginning and the end. Security experts sometimes recommend against car registrations, but with random punctuation added, they’re pretty secure. They’re certainly better than “123456.”
  • If a client wants to stick to a word that’s easy to remember, suggest they add a number and a punctuation mark at the end.

It’s not really that difficult to come up with a complex password that’s easy to remember – your clients might just need some ideas to help. The one thing you shouldn’t do is give in to any insistence on letting them continue to use laughably predictable passwords like those in the list above. After all, it’s your phone that’s going to ring when someone breaks into their network.

You might also like...

MSP Business

A guide to cold calling for MSPs

MSP Business

Selling to Line of Business Managers

MSP Business

Why Integration Is a Critical Component of MSP Growth

MSP Business

5 Best Practices for Adding Business with Existing Customers

MSP Business

MSP Customer Retention: 6 Tips for QBRs

MSP Business

Six big reasons you should give your technicians sales training

Recent Posts

  • Google Drive Security Best Practices
  • Did You Know Your PSA Can Help You at Tax Time?
  • How to Fix High CPU Usage for Windows
  • Protecting O365 and G Suite Email—A Layered Approach 
  • PSA Overkill: Is Your PSA Managing You?

Categories:

  • Business Growth (403)
  • Tips & Advice (332)
  • Managed Services (296)
  • Security (249)
  • Best Practices (247)
  • Business (212)
  • Cybersecurity (193)
  • Backup & Disaster Recovery (105)
  • IT Support (97)
  • ITSM (67)
  • Data (61)
  • Cloud Computing (56)
  • Product (56)
  • Marketing (46)
  • Mail (46)
  • Risk Intelligence (31)
  • Customer Service (29)
  • Networking (27)
  • Remote Management (26)
  • Services & Support (16)
  • GDPR (16)
  • Service Desk (15)
  • Research & Trends (13)
  • PSA (11)
  • Business Risk (11)
  • Operations (11)
  • Internet of Things (10)
  • Mobile (9)
  • Training (8)
  • Security-series (7)
  • LOGICcards (4)
  • Machine Learning (3)
Show moreless
SolarWinds MSP

© SolarWinds MSP Canada ULC and SolarWinds MSP UK Ltd.
All Rights Reserved.

Products

  • SolarWinds RMM
  • SolarWinds N-central
  • SolarWinds Backup
  • SolarWinds MSP Manager
  • SolarWinds Mail Assure
  • SolarWinds Risk Intelligence
  • SolarWinds Take Control
  • SolarWinds Threat Monitor

Solutions

  • How We Help MSPs
  • How We Help IT Departments
  • Layered Security
  • Cross-Platform Support
  • Data-Driven Insights

About

  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Leadership Team
  • Privacy
  • Legal
  • Security
  • Subscription Preferences

Support

  • SolarWinds RMM
  • Solarwinds N-central
  • SolarWinds Backup
  • SolarWinds Mail Assure
  • MSP Manager
  • Solarwinds Risk Intelligence
  • SolarWinds Take Control
  • SolarWinds Take Control Downloads
  • Backup & Recovery Downloads
  • Sitemap
  • Service Status