THE article "Number Usage in Passwords: Take Two" by Jesse La Grew analyzes how numbers, particularly years, are used in passwords submitted to honeypots. It presents findings from data collected between April 2024 and March 2026, noting an increase in the use of date-related passwords like `Spring2026!` and patterns where certain numbers are often repeated. The report identifies the top contiguous numbers used (e.g., "123") and mentions the connection between these number sequences and potential DDoS activities.
It also highlights the trends in numbers related to dates, showing that common years appear most frequently in passwords the year they are generated. Moreover, passwords that could represent dates are discussed, indicating a heavy reliance on significant years or birthdays. Overall, the article advises caution against using easily guessable numeric patterns in passwords.