Comments on: New Years Resolution: Avoid These Bad Ideas?

By: Big Bear

Big Bear — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 12:00:13 +0000

I would agree with you MJ – the list looks pretty authentic to me – I used to administer a University computer lab in my student days and I can say many of the passwords on the list we’re in my system…

By: MJ Ray

MJ Ray — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 11:18:42 +0000

The list is from a book cited at the foot of the table. The author’s page http://xato.com/about says it was an analysis of two million passwords.

Searching Google for advice is a very bad idea: there’s a real risk of incompetent or evil people who are better at SEO than real experts. BBC, NBC and others have fallen prey to SEO attacks before. It’s better to start from a good book published by people you’re already trusting, like http://www.uk.debian.org/doc/manuals/securing-debian-howto/ch3.en.html#s3.4

By: Franklin PIAT

Franklin PIAT — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 09:48:51 +0000

This password list is such a joke! It was probably build by the author on a Sunday morning, or collected using an online survey (assuming the amount of 4 letter words)…

Regarding the sysadmin they should have a look at any page among:
http://www.google.com/search?&q=choosing+password

By: MJ Ray

MJ Ray — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:57:42 +0000

Thanks Big Bear. Apparently all new years resolutions are bad ideas, according to http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/uk/7806776.stm – make of that what you will!

By: Big Bear

Big Bear — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:43:04 +0000

Great tips MJ.
Especially the reminder on passwords which I shall take good heed of
Happy New Year to you!