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Breached Passwords and Euros Football

What can breached passwords tell us? With the Euros underway, they can tell us to stop and think

Kate Wotherspoonon 16th June 2021

Here at Authlogics, we’re extremely privileged to have access to a cache of password-related data. The Password Breach Database is a treasure trove for security analysis, allowing us to use the 1 billion unique clear text passwords to develop trends and patterns found in data breaches that have exposed passwords, allowing us to make inferences and judgments about the state of password security, based on the associated data. 

 

Unless you’ve been living off the grid for the past few months, you’ll be aware that the UEFA European Football Championship (or just the Euro’s) is taking place across Europe. This event, rescheduled from last summer as we (hopefully) gain more of a handle on the pandemic, is a chance for football fans from across the continent to cheer on their teams after a year of uncertainty and anxiety. 

 

So, what does this have to do with passwords, you might ask? Well, our extensive database of breached passwords shows that when people are coming up with their passwords, football is often top of mind. Our Password Breach Database shows that of the 1 billion breached passwords, there are well over 1 million associated with football. See below for an example of these instances: 

 

Top 5 football terms  Number of occurrences 
Football  353,993
Liverpool  215,842
Chelsea  172,727
Arsenal  151,936
Barcelona 131,090
Total  1,136,155 

 

This mind-boggling number of passwords associated with football poses an obvious problem. These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach itself, but they also speak to serious problems for other accounts owned by the compromised individuals. Google research tells us that 52% of people reuse the same password for multiple (but not all) accounts, just 33% use a different password for all accounts, and 13% reuse the same password for all their accounts. 

 

Therefore, if your password has been breached on one account, and you are one of the 52% of people who reuse their passwords regularly, you might find other accounts which were not breached also compromised. As well as this, the amount of public information which we willingly share on the Internet is a further issue when it comes to password security. If someone is aware of the amount of passwords that are associated with football, and are able to use social engineering tactics to discover which team an individual supports, they can make a good, educated guess as to their password to not just one, but multiple accounts. 

 

If the Euros have meant that Harry Kane and Mason Mount are top of mind as an England fan, consider some of the below before you decide on your latest password: 

 

  • Replace the password with a pattern (Such as our PINgrid product): As opposed to using a word, which is easily recognisable and easily stolen, use a code or pattern formed out of letters or numbers which is unique to you. 
  • Use a variety of different symbols: A combination of letters (some upper case and some lower), numbers, and symbols…This is particularly important if you are insistent on having your favourite football team in your password! 
  • Try your absolute best to not reuse passwords. While this might mean you need to remember more passwords (or use a password manager) it goes a long way to limiting the damage should one of your accounts become breached.

 

Ultimately, we’d like to see a world without passwords. But until that day comes, following best practices when developing your passwords is half the battle! 

 

For more information about how we can help to keep your online accounts safe, visit www.authlogics.com 

 

in Customer Experience, Data Breach, Password, Security
tags: Authlogics, compromised credentials, cybersecurity, data breach, Identity, password security

39 replies on “What can breached passwords tell us? With the Euros underway, they can tell us to stop and think”

  • Euros Football Fever Nets Dumb Passwords | Threatpost
    16th June 2021 at 16:50
    reply to Euros

    […] In that database, there are “well over 1 million associated with football,” the company said on Wednesday. Some […]

  • Euro 2020-Driven Football Fever – ‘Passwords Coming Home!’ – Cyber News Group
    17th June 2021 at 13:23
    reply to Euro

    […] Authlogics. In that database, there are “well over 1 million associated with football,” the company said on […]

  • Euros Football Fever Nets Dumb Passwords | Threatpost - CyberSigna
    19th June 2021 at 14:48
    reply to Euros

    […] Authlogics. In that database, there are “well over 1 million associated with football,” the company said on Wednesday. Some […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good password - Simturax
    20th June 2021 at 06:07
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good - Gigarefurb Refurbished Laptops News
    20th June 2021 at 06:10
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    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good - Santé Zap
    20th June 2021 at 06:11
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    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good - Samachar Central
    20th June 2021 at 06:14
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    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good - TECHTELEGRAPH
    20th June 2021 at 06:15
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good | K2C Digital
    20th June 2021 at 06:15
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's Time To Ditch Football Passwords For Good | MymanGo | MymanGo Delivery Platform
    20th June 2021 at 06:16
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good - BBC Tech Update
    20th June 2021 at 06:18
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It’s time to ditch soccer passwords for good – techmotimes.com
    20th June 2021 at 06:18
    reply to It’s

    […] with football poses an obvious dilemma,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog site write-up analyzing the conclusions. “These breached passwords are certainly insecure because of to the […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good - ReelHeadlines
    20th June 2021 at 06:23
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good - Gur Times
    20th June 2021 at 06:24
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    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It’s time to ditch football passwords for good – iDea HUNTR
    20th June 2021 at 06:26
    reply to It’s

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It’s time to ditch football passwords for good password – The Geeky Girl
    20th June 2021 at 06:27
    reply to It’s

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good - Tech and Science Post
    20th June 2021 at 06:27
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good - E.Y.E
    20th June 2021 at 06:32
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good | Love Africa News
    20th June 2021 at 06:39
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good - The Ultimate Journal
    20th June 2021 at 06:39
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It’s time to ditch football passwords for good | Marijuanapy The World News
    20th June 2021 at 06:39
    reply to It’s

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good - NY Press News
    20th June 2021 at 06:41
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good | PRO Gambler
    20th June 2021 at 06:43
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It is time to ditch soccer passwords for good - Cryptoinfoos
    20th June 2021 at 06:45
    reply to It

    […] related to soccer poses an apparent downside,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a weblog put up analyzing the findings. “These breached passwords are clearly insecure because of the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good - Techpix
    20th June 2021 at 06:45
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good - USA Tribune Media
    20th June 2021 at 06:48
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's Time To Dump Her And Move On | Jnews
    20th June 2021 at 06:49
    reply to It's

    […] associated with football shows a clear problem,” wrote author Kate Waderspoon in one. Blog post Checking the findings. “These unsolicited passwords are clearly insecure due to the breach, […]

  • It’s time to ditch football passwords for good password – New About
    20th June 2021 at 06:52
    reply to It’s

    […] with football poses an obvious problem," Authlogics' Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. "These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good - CBS News USA
    20th June 2021 at 06:56
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It’s time to ditch football passwords for good – Bestgamingpro
    20th June 2021 at 07:00
    reply to It’s

    […] related to soccer poses an apparent downside,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post inspecting the findings. “These breached passwords are clearly insecure as a result of breach […]

  • It’s time to ditch football passwords for good
    20th June 2021 at 07:06
    reply to It’s

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good - Sky News US
    20th June 2021 at 07:10
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It is time to ditch soccer passwords for good - Cryptoinfoos
    20th June 2021 at 07:57
    reply to It

    […] related to soccer poses an apparent downside,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a weblog publish analyzing the findings. “These breached passwords are clearly insecure as a result of breach […]

  • It’s time to ditch football passwords for good password – GREENGROUND IT
    20th June 2021 at 08:09
    reply to It’s

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It's time to ditch football passwords for good password - Wilson's Media
    20th June 2021 at 08:13
    reply to It's

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It’s time to ditch football passwords for good password – DLSServe
    20th June 2021 at 08:51
    reply to It’s

    […] with football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. “These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • Este timpul să renunți pentru totdeauna la parolele de fotbal إلى
    20th June 2021 at 14:38
    reply to Este

    […] este în mod clar o problemă”, a scris Kate Witherspoon, de la Authlogics, într-un mesaj. Postare pe blog Examinați rezultatele. „Aceste parole pirate sunt în mod clar nesigure din cauza piratării în […]

  • It’s time to ditch football passwords for good password – CHRISTIAN
    20th June 2021 at 15:14
    reply to It’s

    […] with football poses an obvious problem," Authlogics' Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a blog post examining the findings. "These breached passwords are obviously insecure due to the breach […]

  • It’s time to delete football passwords for good – Ali2day
    20th June 2021 at 16:29
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    […] football poses an obvious problem,” Authlogics’ Kate Wotherspoon wrote in a statement. blog post examining the findings. “These hacked passwords are clearly insecure due to the breach itself, […]

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