The Takeaway
- Most seniors reuse simple passwords like names or birthdays — a hacker’s dream.
- Even tiny tweaks (like adding “–7”) can make a big difference in how hard it is to crack.
- Tools like Have I Been Pwned show whether your password has ever been leaked.
- Avoid using your pet’s name, address, or “123” endings.
- Longer, random combinations are far safer than clever shortcuts.
A friend of mine recently checked one of his favorite passwords on Have I Been Pwned — the site that lets you see if your credentials have appeared in a data breach.
The verdict? See for yourself:
Yes, his password had been seen 5,887 times.
That’s because he used a variation of his mom's name followed by “1-2-3.” It’s an easy combination to remember, but it’s also one hackers can guess in seconds.
If he had just tacked on a “–7,” he might have dodged the breach list entirely.
That’s not superstition — it’s statistics.
