How Not to Choose A Password: Compliments of Ashley Madison
By Phyrre
@phyrre (2317)
United States
August 27, 2015 8:58am CST
I found this article this morning on Yahoo, and I found it rather interesting. For those that don't know, Ashley Madison is a hook-up site for married people to have affairs on their spouses. Pretty shady stuff. Probably why it ended up getting hacked and the account owners revealed.
In light of that, there have been some studies done on the released passwords, which were still hashed. I thought this was really interesting. Out of the 4,000 passes that were decrypted, there were some really lousy ones in there. Here's a link to the article, if you're interested in the whole list, you can find the article here:
Suffice it to say, "123456" and "password" are really lousy choices, so keep that in mind next time you sign up for something. xD
I sort of thought all of this was common sense already, but apparently I'm mistaken by the sheer number of people who were foolish enough to choose these really basic ones. I think that's what surprised me the most, that people apparently don't know any better!
What do you think of this list? Is there anything on it that particularly surprises you or that you maybe didn't expect?
After cracking 4,000 passwords, one decrypted password floated to the top of the list. And it's not for the first time.
4 people like this
4 responses
@purplealabaster (22094)
• United States
27 Aug 15
*rushes off to change password from "password" to "login"*
I really do not know what to say about some of these. I understand that people want a password that they can remember but really are we that simple-minded these days?
By the way, how do you know so much about the Ashley Madison website anyway?
By the way, how do you know so much about the Ashley Madison website anyway?3 people like this
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
27 Aug 15
Darn it, you found a loophole! "login" totally was not on that list...
Even Papa uses a better password than this, and we know how old and uncreative he is. 
If even he knows better, it REALLY makes me wonder about some of these people, since some days I'm not sure he even really understands how to use the Internet, which he keeps insisting is Windows. 
Because I read news sites. You know, like people who don't get newspapers do...
Oh wait, I mean, because that's how I pick up all my Asian boyfriends. 
Besides, you know, the one Asian-Canadian I married in that game...
If even he knows better, it REALLY makes me wonder about some of these people, since some days I'm not sure he even really understands how to use the Internet, which he keeps insisting is Windows.
Because I read news sites. You know, like people who don't get newspapers do...
Oh wait, I mean, because that's how I pick up all my Asian boyfriends. Besides, you know, the one Asian-Canadian I married in that game...3 people like this
@purplealabaster (22094)
• United States
27 Aug 15
@phyrre LOL - yeah, I used to know what his password was but he has changed it ... I suspect that I know what it probably is now, since he is so creative, but I have not tried that yet.
I think that he keeps getting confused with "Windows" the operating system and "window" that you open to do things.
Reading newspapers and news sites ... what is all this rubbish?!
Why don't you just do what every red-blooded normal American does and watch television.
Speaking of hot Asian boyfriends, you totally have to check out the Disney movie "Descendants". He plays a teenager named Jay in the movie, but he is twenty-one, which is perfectly legal.
I think that he keeps getting confused with "Windows" the operating system and "window" that you open to do things.
Reading newspapers and news sites ... what is all this rubbish?! Why don't you just do what every red-blooded normal American does and watch television.
Speaking of hot Asian boyfriends, you totally have to check out the Disney movie "Descendants". He plays a teenager named Jay in the movie, but he is twenty-one, which is perfectly legal.3 people like this
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
27 Aug 15
@purplealabaster It's true. But Papa owns a printer. I swear.
That's right! If you want Mahjong, why don't you just play it on your own tablet? Oh wait, that's right...
Ugh, we'll have to find a way to get you to watch Kingsman before that lol. Maybe I can send you a digital copy or something. We can have a movie night over the phone, since we have free long distance.
Yes, I looked. And I agree! He's definitely a looker. Wait, are you implying that I like old men? Why I never...how dare...ah, who am I kidding? You're right. I told hubby I can't wait until he's about 35. 
And I'm buying him a nice suit for him for his 30th birthday that I expect him to wear from time to time.
Yes, I looked. And I agree! He's definitely a looker. Wait, are you implying that I like old men? Why I never...how dare...ah, who am I kidding? You're right. I told hubby I can't wait until he's about 35. And I'm buying him a nice suit for him for his 30th birthday that I expect him to wear from time to time. 2 people like this
@AJ1952Chats (2332)
• Anderson, Indiana
2 Sep 15
Personally, I'm so creative when designing strong passwords that it isn't uncommon for me to forget them and have to ask for new ones.
However, I believe that I have that problem pretty well solved now.
"How?" you might ask -- to which I would reply:
"That's for me to know and you to try to figure out..." Heh-Heh!
Gotta go for now, as lunch is about to be served in the Community Room of my apartment building!
1 person likes this
@AJ1952Chats (2332)
• Anderson, Indiana
2 Sep 15
@phyrre That's exactly what I go through! I guess that means that great minds sail along in the same cloud of fog! L 
L
L1 person likes this
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
2 Sep 15
@AJ1952Chats I'll be sure to honk my fog horn at you as we drift past with no idea where we're going. 
Hey, at least my account is safe if even I can't figure it out, right? In theory...
Hey, at least my account is safe if even I can't figure it out, right? In theory...@phyrre (2317)
• United States
2 Sep 15
You're such a tease! Figure out the solution to problems and then just keep it to yourself!
I try to make my passes a nice mix of things while also keeping it something I can remember. I forget all the time, so I usually end up requesting new ones because I can't remember what pass I used for what account. xD
Figure out the solution to problems and then just keep it to yourself!
I try to make my passes a nice mix of things while also keeping it something I can remember. I forget all the time, so I usually end up requesting new ones because I can't remember what pass I used for what account. xD1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
27 Aug 15
Hmm one would think that people would get the idea of having a good password, apparently not according to the released list of them omg. seriously?
1 person likes this
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
27 Aug 15
Maybe they were going for the "so simple no one will guess it" thing? xD Or I could see some of them being passwords for throwaway accounts like a spam email or something, but a site specifically for cheating on your spouse that you actually need to pay for at some point? If someone doesn't figure they need a really secure password for that, I'm not sure what would constitute the need for one lol. Not that I condone cheating or anything, but shouldn't that be the quintessential secret that someone would want to keep? xD
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
27 Aug 15
@phyrre I guess they thought their spouses were that dumb
1 person likes this
