The Mossos d"Esquadra have issued an alert due to the increase in incidents linked to the use of weak passwords in digital accounts in Catalonia. The warning affects both private users and professionals in Barcelona, Girona, and Tarragona, where the management of personal and business data increasingly depends on computer security.
80% of breaches, due to simple passwords
According to data provided by the Mossos d'Esquadra and cybersecurity specialists, more than 80% of data breaches originate from overly simple passwords. Combinations like 123456, password, or qwerty continue to be used regularly across all types of digital services
The automatic systems employed by cybercriminals can try thousands of combinations each minute. This capability allows them to break short and simple passwords in a matter of minutes, which increases the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information
Police consequences and recommendations
Illegal access to an email account can open the door to social media, online banking, or professional platforms, as many services are interconnected. Incidents resulting from the use of weak passwords can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, or serious reputational damage.
The Mossos d'Esquadra insist on the importance of using unique passwords for each service, long, without personal data and renewed periodically. A password that combines uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols can take years or even centuries to be deciphered by automatic systems
"A weak password today is like leaving your front door open" - Spokesperson, Mossos d'Esquadra
The regional police remind that prevention is key to avoiding digital security incidents in any municipality in Catalonia