President’s Message
Passwords. Here are several real-life examples of everyday people using weak and not unique passwords, leading to serious consequences such as financial loss, identity theft, and emotional distress.
1. The “123456” Nightmare – Personal Email Hacked
What happened:
A woman in the U.S. used the password “123456” for her email, which was also linked to her online banking and social media. Her email got hacked via a simple brute-force attack.
Consequence:
The hacker gained access to her banking information, initiated a password reset, and transferred several thousand dollars from her checking account before the fraud was detected.
Cost:
- Financial loss (~$5,000, some recovered)
- Time spent with banks and law enforcement
- Emotional stress and paranoia about future attacks
2. Social Media Hijack – Weak Password, No 2FA
What happened:
A small business owner used “password1” for her business Instagram account and didn’t enable two-factor authentication.
Consequence:
Her account was hijacked, and the attacker began posting phishing links and scams. Customers lost trust, and she lost hundreds of followers and potential business.
Cost:
- Loss of online presence and credibility
- Revenue drop for the month (estimated $1,200+)
- Time spent regaining access (took 3 weeks)
3. Work-from-Home Employee – Reused Password Disaster
What happened:
A remote worker reused the same password across work and personal sites. One of the sites suffered a data breach.
Consequence:
The attacker gained access to the worker’s company account using the leaked credentials and exfiltrated sensitive customer data.
Cost:
- Employee was held partially responsible and was fired
- Employer faced PR damage and legal action
- Personal embarrassment and difficulty finding new work
4. Medical Identity Theft via Weak Portal Password
What happened:
A man used “letmein” for his online health insurance account.
Consequence:
A criminal accessed his account, changed the mailing address, and used his insurance benefits to get $20,000 worth of fraudulent medical procedures.
Cost:
- Months spent clearing fraudulent medical records
- Legal fees
- Difficulty getting new insurance
These cases underline the real-world risks of weak passwords.
Using password managers, enabling two-factor authentication, and not reusing passwords can greatly reduce the chances of similar consequences.
Here is a Link to a 3 minute Youtube video on how password managers work: Click here.
One last thing: we all dislike having to use passwords and now 2FA (2 factor authorization which is simply something you know – your password – and something you have – your phone for text confirmation – that a hacker wouldn’t have). But we lock our homes often including a deadbolt for our physical protection, so really it is the same to do for our online digital protection. Our cars we lock and set the alarm, it is just part of life.
Web resource of the month recommendation:
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Members helping members,
Buddy Holt, President
Tellico Village Computer Users Club