Hacks reveal many people use one size fits all password online

Meinel suggests that users invent much more secure passwords than 123456 and regularly change them.

Many Internet users are putting themselves at risk of being hacked by using the same email address and password combination for numerous online services.

That has been revealed by an analysis by the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) of passwords made public after being hacked. Major platforms such as LinkedIn, Yahoo and Myspace were all hit by the leaks.