Using the Same Password Everywhere
This is the big one. One password for Gmail, Netflix, banking, social media—everything. Seems convenient until one site gets hacked.
When LinkedIn or Adobe or whatever gets breached (and they do constantly), hackers take those email/password combinations and try them everywhere else. Within hours, they're in your bank account, email, and everything that matters.
The Fix:
Every account needs a unique password. Yes, all 100+ of them. Use a password manager—that's literally what they're for. Generate random passwords and let the manager remember them.
Making Passwords Too Short
"Rocky77" might have worked in 2005. In 2025? Modern computers crack that in seconds.
Eight characters used to be the standard. Now it's the absolute bare minimum—and honestly, it's not enough anymore. Hackers have GPUs that can try billions of combinations per second. Short passwords don't stand a chance.
The Fix:
Minimum 12 characters. Ideally 16+. Every extra character exponentially increases crack time. A 16-character password can take millions of years to crack. An 8-character one? Hours.
Using Dictionary Words
"Elephant", "Sunshine", "Football"—these are all terrible passwords. Even if you add numbers or swap letters.
Hackers run "dictionary attacks" that try every word in the English language (and dozens of other languages) plus common number/symbol combinations. "P@ssw0rd" fools nobody—it's one of the first things they try.
The Fix:
Use random characters or string together multiple unrelated words: "Correct-Horse-Battery-Staple-97" is way stronger than "Elephant123!". Or just generate completely random passwords with our tool.
Including Personal Information
Your name, birthday, pet's name, favorite team, anniversary date—all terrible password material.
This stuff is public on social media. Hackers know to try "Michael1985", "Fluffy2020", "Liverpool@1", and every other predictable combination. They've automated this. It takes them seconds.
The Fix:
Keep passwords completely random and unrelated to your life. If someone who knows you could guess it, it's not secure enough.
Not Using Two-Factor Authentication
Even a strong password isn't enough anymore. If a site gets hacked and your password leaks, you're vulnerable.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a second check: something you have (your phone) plus something you know (your password). Even if hackers steal your password, they can't get in without that second factor.
The Fix:
Enable 2FA on every important account—email, banking, social media, work. Use an authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy) or hardware key, not SMS codes (those can be intercepted).
Saving Passwords in Your Browser
Chrome, Firefox, and Safari will happily save your passwords. Super convenient. Also super risky.
If someone gets access to your computer (physically or through malware), they can export all your browser-saved passwords in plain text. No encryption, no protection. Just a nice list of everything you've ever logged into.
The Fix:
Use a dedicated password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password, LastPass). They use military-grade encryption and require a master password to access. Way more secure than browser storage.
Writing Passwords on Sticky Notes
Look, I get it. You can't remember 100 passwords. But writing them on Post-its stuck to your monitor? That's not a solution, that's a security nightmare.
Anyone who walks past your desk—coworkers, cleaners, visitors, that sketchy contractor—can photograph your passwords. Digital security doesn't matter if you're broadcasting everything on paper.
The Fix:
Password manager. I know I keep saying it, but it's genuinely the answer. Free options exist (Bitwarden). No more sticky notes, no more forgetting passwords, way more secure.
Never Checking If You've Been Hacked
Data breaches happen constantly. LinkedIn, Adobe, Dropbox, Yahoo—massive companies with millions of stolen passwords. Your password might be floating around the dark web right now and you'd never know.
Hackers don't immediately use stolen credentials. They sit on them, trade them, sell them. By the time you realize something's wrong, they've already drained your accounts.
The Fix:
Check haveibeenpwned.com with your email addresses right now. It'll tell you if your credentials appeared in any known breaches. If they have, change those passwords immediately. Set a reminder to check quarterly.
Be Honest: How Many of These Are You Making?
If you checked off 3 or more, you're at serious risk. The good news? All eight mistakes have simple fixes. You don't need to be a cybersecurity expert—you just need to stop doing the things that make hackers' jobs easy.
- →Get a password manager (30 minutes to set up)
- →Generate new passwords for critical accounts (1 hour)
- →Enable 2FA everywhere (another hour)
- →Check haveibeenpwned.com (2 minutes)
That's 2.5 hours total to massively upgrade your security. Do it this weekend. Your future self will thank you.
Your "Stop Getting Hacked" Checklist
- Install a password manager today (Bitwarden is free and excellent)
- Generate unique 16+ character passwords for every account
- Never reuse passwords—not even once
- Enable 2FA on email, banking, social media, and work accounts
- Stop storing passwords in your browser
- Destroy those sticky notes with passwords on them
- Check haveibeenpwned.com quarterly
- Make your passwords at least 12 characters—16+ is better
Tools to Fix These Mistakes
Stop Making Hackers' Jobs Easy
Generate strong, unique passwords right now. Our tool creates uncrackable passwords in one click. Copy to your password manager and start protecting yourself today.
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