Liverpool fans and supporters of other major Premier League clubs have been urged by experts to change their passwords immediately due to security concerns.
Analysis conducted by Dashlane, using an anonymised database provided by Gang Wang, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science at Virginia Tech, revealed the most common sports team names used in online account passwords. The study focused specifically on the Premier League and NFL.
The findings showed that Liverpool was the most mentioned English team in passwords, followed by Chelsea and Arsenal. Crystal Palace was found to be the least mentioned team. Emmanuel Schalit, CEO of Dashlane, emphasised the inherent risks in using personal and emotionally significant terms as passwords. He pointed out, ‘Coming up with a password can be a very personal and emotional choice, and the data clearly shows consumers like to use the teams they support as part of their password habits.’
Schalit, who is himself an avid football fan, further stated, ‘As an avid soccer fan, I understand the urge to align your accounts with your favourite teams – but it’s a major security risk. Along with using names, schools, and additional personally identifiable information, favourite teams should be avoided.’
Meanwhile, experts continue to warn that using easily guessable passwords, such as favourite sports teams, significantly heightens the risk of account breaches. Therefore, it is recommended to opt for more complex passwords and utilise password management tools to ensure online security.
In light of these revelations, it is crucial for fans of Liverpool and other clubs to reassess and strengthen their online security measures. Adopting more secure password practices can mitigate the risks of unauthorised access and maintain the integrity of personal information.