One of the simplest—and most overlooked—security threats in any office is weak passwords. They might seem harmless, but bad passwords are like leaving the front door unlocked. All it takes is one compromised login to give hackers access to sensitive data, client information, or internal systems.
The good news? It’s one of the easiest problems to fix. It starts with understanding what makes a password “bad” in the first place.
What Makes a Password Bad?
A bad password is one that’s easy to guess, commonly used, or reused across multiple accounts. These kinds of passwords can be cracked in seconds using automated tools—or even by someone taking a lucky guess.
Here are some of the worst offenders:
- 123456
- password
- qwerty
- letmein
- admin
- iloveyou
- abc123
- office2024
- welcome1
- companyname123
Yes, people still use these. Even in professional environments.
Why People Still Use Weak Passwords
It’s usually about convenience. With so many logins to keep track of, people default to what’s easy to remember—even if it puts the whole organization at risk. Reusing the same password across accounts is also a major problem. If one account is compromised, everything else using that same login becomes vulnerable.
How to Build Better Habits Across the Office
A few simple steps can dramatically improve password security and help prevent costly mistakes:
- Set Password Rules
Create clear standards for workplace passwords:
- At least 12 characters long
- Includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols
- No repeating previous passwords
- Require updates every 3–6 months
- Discourage Password Sharing
Remind everyone: passwords should never be shared over email, chat apps, or on sticky notes. If someone needs access, it’s better to set them up with their own login whenever possible.
- Use a Password Manager
Password management tools like 1Password, LastPass, or Bitwarden can store and autofill complex passwords for employees. These tools also generate strong, unique passwords automatically—taking the pressure off staff to create and remember them.
- Offer a Quick Training or Tip Sheet
A short lunch-and-learn or a simple email with password dos and don’ts can make a big impact. Most employees want to do the right thing—they just need the information.
What a Good Password Looks Like
Strong passwords can still be memorable—especially when built using a phrase, random words, or a personal system. Some examples:
- H0liday@72!Beagle
- Sn0w_Globe!2025
- T&bPastaCar#004
- gR@p3fru!t_T!g3r
Better yet, let a password manager create them so no one has to struggle.
The Bottom Line
Weak passwords are one of the easiest ways into a workplace’s digital systems—and one of the easiest threats to prevent. Taking time to promote better password habits now can save everyone a lot of stress, downtime, and potential data loss down the line.
Security doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be smart. And it starts with saying goodbye to 123456.
