Why You Must Use Different Passwords for Your VPN, According to New Research

We’ve all heard the warnings about using the same password for multiple accounts—it’s a serious security mistake. Yet, many people still ignore this advice, which can be particularly risky when it comes to VPN solutions. Recent research by Swedish password manager SpecOps reveals just how critical it is to use unique passwords, especially for your VPN. Millions of people have been found using duplicate passwords for their VPN accounts, and this is a major security flaw.

The study highlights that even with top-notch VPN solutions, using a repeated password can undermine your security. Imagine having an almost impenetrable fortress but leaving the backdoor wide open. That’s what it’s like if you use the same password for your VPN. Hackers gaining access to your VPN account can disable the endpoint security VPN provides. This could allow them to bypass the encryption protecting your online activities and potentially install malware or steal sensitive data from networks that are only accessible through the VPN. For businesses, especially those using VPN solutions for small businesses, this could lead to significant security breaches.

The research shows that over 2 million VPN passwords were compromised last year, with many coming from popular consumer VPN services. It’s much easier for hackers to steal passwords using methods like keyloggers than to attack the most secure VPN solutions directly.

To prevent such security issues, it’s crucial to use secure, unique passwords and a reliable password manager. Sadly, many people still don’t follow this advice. A 2024 Google poll found that 52% of Americans reuse passwords across multiple sites.

The most stolen passwords were incredibly common and easily guessable. Over 5,000 people used ‘123456,’ and the next five most popular passwords were just consecutive numbers. Shockingly, 554 people even used ‘password’ as their password.

The study also reveals that large VPN providers had a high number of compromised passwords. This is expected, given their large user bases make them a prime target. Of the 2.1 million compromised VPN passwords, 1.3 million were from Proton VPN, 98,000 from ExpressVPN, and 89,000 from NordVPN. This doesn’t imply that these services are insecure. Rather, it underscores the importance of strong password practices, as hackers exploit weak or repeated passwords.

Proton VPN is particularly affected, partly because it offers one of the best free VPN solutions, leading to a large user base.

In summary, this research underscores that no matter how advanced your VPN solutions are, they can’t protect you if you’re using the same password repeatedly. For optimal security, particularly with endpoint security VPNs and VPN solutions for small businesses, using unique passwords is essential. A good password manager can help you maintain strong, unique passwords for all your accounts.