Breached passwords: Popular TV shows don't make for the best security credentials

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Forgotten passwords tin beryllium a clip suck and a wide drag. As a result, radical often edifice to little than perfect cybersecurity strategies.

On Monday, Specops Software, a password absorption and authentication company, released a roundup of the popular TV shows recovered connected breached password lists. While utilizing a favourite tv programme whitethorn marque it easier to retrieve that Netflix password, pursuing this logic could service arsenic a chink successful one's cybersecurity armor.

"Attackers cognize making a strong, memorable password is hard and that radical thin to take casual things we know," said Darren James, merchandise specializer astatine Specops Software, successful a station astir the findings. "This latest probe shows america what we cognize to beryllium true–that extremity users are making usage of the things that travel casual to them successful their passwords, and that includes that aged favourite amusement they've watched for years."

SEE: Security incidental effect policy (TechRepublic Premium)

The inglorious database is based connected a roundup of much than 800 breached passwords that Specops compared to TV Guide's Top 50 Shows and IMDB's Top 50 Most Watched tv programs. With much than 73,000 appearances connected breached password lists, "The Flash" took the No. 1 spot successful the Specops rankings.

While a comparatively caller TV amusement claimed the apical spot, syndicated shows were well-represented successful the roundup. The 90s deed bid "Friends" ranked 2nd with much than 64,000 appearances connected breached passwords lists, followed by "Taxi," the precocious 70s/early 80s classical starring Danny DeVito, Andy Kaufman and Tony Danza, which appeared connected breached password lists astir 59,000 times.

Next, "Arrow," "Elite" and "Saturday Night Live" circular retired the apical six, successful order. Another tv syndicated bid and WB classic, "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," claimed the No. 7 spot, followed by "Lucifer" and "Vikings." Last but not least, the longest-running scripted amusement connected television, "The Simpsons," rounded retired Specops' apical 10, and the section watering hole-centric bid "Cheers" made the database astatine No. 11.

Generally advised password champion practices includes utilizing a premix of precocious and lowercase letters, numbers and peculiar characters. While nary of the apical 10 shows featured a peculiar character, 1 TV amusement extracurricular the apical 10 would technically cheque this box: The cult science-fiction bid "X-Files" ranked 16th successful the Specops database and features a hyphen.

SEE: How to negociate passwords: Best practices and information tips (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

More popular civilization related breached password lists

This TV-centric roundup isn't Specops' archetypal breached password database focused connected fashionable media. In May 2021, the institution released a roundup of "Star Wars"-themed breached passwords for the sci-fi vacation May 4 besides known arsenic Star Wars Day and, successful July, it brought DC and Marvel universes into the premix with a list of superheroes recovered connected compromised password lists. (Spoiler alert: Yoda and Loki apical these lists, respectively.)

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