World Password Day: Your Annual Reminder That “Password123” Isn’t Cutting It
First Thursday of May? That means it’s World Password Day, aka the one day a year we all pretend we’re going to sort out our digital lives—and maybe actually do it. Whether you’re a serial password re-user or someone with a spreadsheet titled “TotallyNotPasswords.xlsx,” this is your cue to rethink your digital defences.
A Brief History (No Hacking Required)
World Password Day was started by Intel in 2013 as a gentle nudge toward better cybersecurity habits. It’s now a global reminder that while passwords may be annoying, they’re also your first line of defence against everything from identity theft to that one ex who still knows your Netflix login.
Just How Bad Are We at Passwords?
Let’s not sugar-coat it—we’re terrible. Year after year, “123456,” “qwerty,” and “password” top the charts of most-used passwords. Even worse? People reuse the same password across dozens of sites, meaning one breach can unlock your whole online world like a dodgy master key.
A few quick facts:
- Over 80% of hacking-related breaches involve weak or stolen passwords.
- Most people haven’t updated their main passwords in over a year.
- “ILoveYou” is still a top-ranking password, which is sweet… but risky.
How to Celebrate (a.k.a. Panic-Change Everything)
Alright, so what do we actually do on World Password Day? You could:
- Update your passwords (start with the biggies: email, banking, shopping)
- Turn on two-factor authentication (yes, it’s a faff, but it works)
- Use a password manager so you’re not storing logins in your Notes app next to your Tesco list
- Create strong passwords that are at least 12 characters long, with a mix of upper/lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols (no, your dog’s birthday doesn’t count)
Bonus points if you finally let go of “fluffy1987” as your security fallback.
UK-Specific Bonus: You’re Probably Using Your Football Team
Research shows that a worrying number of Brits use their favourite team as their password. If “LiverpoolFC4Life” is your login for everything from Gmail to your HMRC account—consider this your friendly intervention.
Final Thoughts: Lock It Down
World Password Day might not sound glamorous, but in a world of constant digital threats, it’s a solid excuse to take five minutes and lock your digital doors. Your future self will thank you—and so will your inbox.