Quiz of the Day
Passwords & Cybersecurity
Thursday, 7 May 2026
World Password Day — internet safety, hacking history, digital milestones
1. What is the most commonly used password in the world?
- qwerty
- admin
- password
- 123456
'123456' has topped the most-common-password list for years. It can be cracked by a hacking programme in less than 1 second. Despite constant warnings, about 4.5 million accounts still use it.
2. What does 'phishing' mean in cybersecurity?
- Installing malware on a computer
- Stealing Wi-Fi signals
- Hacking into a database
- Tricking someone into revealing sensitive information via fake messages
The term 'phishing' was coined in 1996, using 'ph' from 'phone phreaking' (early hacking). About 3.4 billion phishing emails are sent every day. It's the starting point for over 90% of all cyber attacks.
3. What is two-factor authentication (2FA)?
- Using two different passwords
- Having two people approve a login
- Encrypting data twice
- Requiring two forms of verification to access an account
2FA reduces the risk of account compromise by 99.9% according to Microsoft. The three factors are: something you know (password), something you have (phone/token), and something you are (fingerprint/face).
4. What was the first known computer virus?
- ILOVEYOU
- Creeper
- Melissa
- Morris Worm
Creeper was created in 1971 as an experiment on ARPANET (the internet's predecessor). It displayed the message 'I'm the Creeper, catch me if you can!' The first antivirus, called Reaper, was written specifically to delete it.
5. How long would it take a computer to crack an 8-character password using only lowercase letters?
- About 5 days
- About 5 hours
- About 5 seconds
- About 5 minutes
Modern GPUs can test billions of password combinations per second. Adding uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols to an 8-character password increases crack time from seconds to years. A 12+ character passphrase is far more secure.
6. What is ransomware?
- A type of firewall
- An email filtering tool
- Malware that encrypts files and demands payment for their release
- Software that speeds up your computer
Ransomware attacks cost the global economy an estimated $20 billion in 2023. The largest ransom ever confirmed paid was $40 million by CNA Financial in 2021. Attackers increasingly target hospitals and critical infrastructure.
7. What is a 'firewall' in computing?
- A physical barrier in a data centre
- A security system that monitors and controls network traffic
- A type of encryption
- An antivirus programme
The term comes from the construction industry — a firewall is a barrier designed to prevent fire from spreading. Digital firewalls work similarly, creating a barrier between trusted and untrusted networks.
8. What massive data breach in 2013 affected 3 billion user accounts?
- Equifax
- Yahoo
The Yahoo breach affected every single user account — 3 billion in total. It wasn't disclosed until 2016, and the actual scope wasn't revealed until 2017. The breach reduced Yahoo's sale price to Verizon by $350 million.
9. What is a 'password manager'?
- Software that securely stores and generates unique passwords
- A person who manages company passwords
- An IT department tool
- A browser feature that saves passwords
The average person has about 100 online accounts but uses only 5-7 unique passwords across all of them. Password managers solve this by generating and storing unique, strong passwords — you only need to remember one master password.
10. What does VPN stand for?
- Very Protected Network
- Verified Personal Network
- Virtual Public Node
- Virtual Private Network
VPNs encrypt your internet traffic and mask your IP address. They were originally developed in 1996 by a Microsoft employee to allow secure remote work. Today, over 1.5 billion people worldwide use VPN services.
11. What is 'social engineering' in the context of cybersecurity?
- Designing user interfaces
- Manipulating people into divulging confidential information
- Building social media platforms
- Engineering social networks
Kevin Mitnick, once the FBI's most wanted hacker, said his most effective tool wasn't technology but social engineering. He once got a password by calling a company's help desk and pretending to be a new employee.
12. What is the dark web?
- Offline computer networks
- A part of the internet only accessible through special software like Tor
- Expired websites
- Websites with dark colour themes
The dark web makes up less than 0.01% of the internet. While it's associated with illegal activity, it's also used by journalists, activists, and whistleblowers in oppressive regimes to communicate safely.
13. What is 'encryption'?
- Backing up data to the cloud
- Deleting data permanently
- Converting data into a coded format to prevent unauthorised access
- Compressing files to save space
The earliest known encryption was used by the Spartans around 700 BC using a device called a scytale. Modern encryption like AES-256 would take a supercomputer billions of years to crack by brute force.
14. What should you NEVER do with your passwords?
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Use different passwords for each site
- Write them on a sticky note on your monitor
- Use a password manager
A 2023 survey found that 49% of employees have written passwords on sticky notes. In one famous incident, a Hawaiian missile alert centre was photographed with passwords on a sticky note — the image went viral.
15. What is a 'passphrase' and why is it better than a password?
- A phrase used to unlock a phone
- A voice-activated password
- A longer sequence of words that's both stronger and easier to remember
- A secret question and answer
The passphrase 'correct horse battery staple' (from a famous xkcd comic) would take a computer about 550 years to crack, while 'Tr0ub4dor&3' (a typical 'strong' password) takes about 3 days. Length beats complexity.