Expert reveals the biggest password mistakes that can be hacked in under 60 seconds

Millions of us are said to be at risk of cyber attacks because our passwords are too easy to crack.

I think a lot of people fall into the habit of using the same password for every account going.

Whether that be the password for Facebook and X, or the code for an online catalogue, a lot of folks use the same combination for everything going.

However, using the same password for every account or picking a code that is quite frankly too easy to predict is a recipe for disaster.

But if you decide on not making smart choices when it comes to online safety, then you could find yourself in a spot of bother.

You want to make sure your password is difficult to guess. (Getty Stock Photo)

Data coming out of the cyber security team at Kaspersky has worryingly stated that hackers have made over 32 million attempts to find out personal passwords in 2023 and that number continues to grow.

The simple fact is that we're making it far too easy for hackers to get into our accounts.

Research conducted recently shows that around 45 percent of passwords can be hacked in under 60 seconds.

Furthermore, while this may be an obvious one, it's never wise to use names in passwords.

Speaking about the research, Kaspersky said: "Unconsciously, human beings create 'human' passwords – containing the words from dictionary in their native languages, featuring names, numbers, Etc, things that are easy for our busy brains to recall easily.

"Even seemingly strong combinations are rarely completely random, so they can be guessed by algorithms. Given that, the most dependable solution is to generate a completely random password using modern and reliable password managers."

So, what can you do to protect your account from hackers?

There are simple steps you can take. (Getty Stock Photo)

Taking simple steps such as adding numbers, a couple of capital letters and symbols will make your password more difficult to guess.

Kaspersky says: "Don't use passwords that can be easily guessed from your personal information, such as birthdays, names of family members, pets, or your own name. These are often the first guesses an attacker will make."

They add: "Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). While not directly related to password strength, enabling 2FA adds an extra layer of security. Even if someone discovers your password, they would still need a second form of verification to access your account."

A password manager is another recommendation, which can help you memorise just one master password.

There are many free apps available on Android and iOS.