Experts Reveal Most Commonly Used Passwords: Some Will Truly Surprise You

In a world increasingly reliant on digital security, a new report from NordPass, a password manager, offers a stark reminder that many users, particularly younger generations, are still falling short when it comes to creating strong passwords. Despite being digital natives, individuals from Generation Z and millennials are surprisingly prone to using easily guessable sequences like '12345', which consistently rank among the most common passwords worldwide.

The findings, based on data collected from public data leaks and the dark web between September 2024 and September 2025, highlight a worrying trend. In Canada, 'admin' and '123456' topped the list, followed by 'gallant123' and 'password'. Globally, '123456' and 'admin' were the most prevalent, with '12345678' also featuring prominently. This suggests a widespread disregard for basic cybersecurity hygiene, even among those most comfortable with technology.

What's particularly surprising is the prevalence of these simple passwords among younger demographics. While older generations might sometimes incorporate names into their passwords (like 'Veronica' for Gen X or 'Maria' for Baby Boomers), younger users seem to favor numerical simplicity. Even the use of special characters, often seen as a way to strengthen passwords, proves ineffective when used in predictable patterns like 'P@ssw0rd' or 'Admin@123'.

Cybersecurity experts stress that the issue isn't just password simplicity, but also the common practice of reusing the same weak password across multiple accounts. This significantly increases the risk of widespread data breaches. While newer security tools like passkeys, biometrics, and multi-factor authentication are gaining traction, the fundamental importance of a strong, unique password cannot be overstated. The report serves as a critical call to action for users to reassess their password habits and adopt more robust security practices to protect their digital lives.