What Are Default Passwords and Why You Must Change Them

Default passwords are the ultimate shortcut: they let you set up a new router, camera, or smart device in seconds without thinking. That convenience feels great until you realize millions of identical gadgets ship with the exact same login details. Hackers know this. They don’t need to guess; they just look up the factory defaults for your exact model and walk right in.

Leaving those pre-set passwords unchanged is like taping your house key under the welcome mat and posting a photo of it online. Anyone can find it, anyone can use it, and the damage can happen before you even notice. From stolen Wi-Fi to hijacked security cameras, the stories are real and they’re everywhere.

This article explains exactly what default passwords are, why they’re a hacker’s favorite target, and the few simple steps that will slam the door shut on most casual attacks. Changing them takes two minutes, costs nothing, and instantly makes you a hundred times harder to mess with. Let’s get it done.

What Are Default Passwords?

A default password is a pre-set username and password that comes with devices like routers, cameras, printers, and smart gadgets right from the factory. Common examples are “admin/admin”, “123456”, or just leaving it blank. They’re printed on the device sticker, in the manual, or on the maker’s website—so you can set up quickly.

These are only meant to be temporary. You’re supposed to change them immediately to something strong and unique. But most people don’t, and hackers know all the default passwords. They scan the internet and easily break into millions of unprotected devices, causing huge security risks. In 2025, over 80% of home routers still use factory passwords—super dangerous!

Why Are Default Passwords a Security Risk?

 Default passwords are basically an open invitation to cybercriminals. They’re the low-hanging fruit of hacking: easy, predictable, and everywhere. Why? Because they’re the same on millions of devices. A quick Google search or a tool like Shodan (a search engine for internet-connected gadgets) lets attackers find vulnerable ones in seconds.

Once they’re in? Game over. They can steal your data, spy on your cameras, mess with your smart home, or worse, turn your device into a zombie for massive attacks. Remember the Mirai botnet in 2016? 

It knocked out huge chunks of the internet (like Twitter and Netflix) by infecting IoT devices with default passwords, creating an army of over 600,000 bots. Fast-forward to recent years: In 2023, Iranian hackers hit U.S. water facilities using the oh-so-secure default “1111” on Unitronics systems. Or the Verkada breach, where hackers peeked into 150,000 cameras in hospitals and schools because of lazy credentials.

Stats don’t lie: Weak or default passwords cause over 80% of breaches. In 2024-2025 alone, billions of credentials were leaked, with defaults like “admin” and “password” popping up millions of times. Brute-force attacks (guessing passwords super fast) spiked, with 37% of web app hacks succeeding this way in 2025. And get this—nearly half of us had a password stolen last year!

The risks? Personal info theft, ransomware locking your files, identity fraud, or your device joining a botnet for DDoS attacks that crash websites. For businesses, it’s fines, lawsuits, and reputational damage. Even scarier: IoT attacks hit a new device every five minutes. Leaving defaults unchanged is like handing over your keys, hackers don’t break in; they just log in.

But wait, there’s more everyday danger. Neighbors or passersby could hop on your Wi-Fi, slow it down, or worse, access shared files. Or imagine a creepy hacker watching your baby cam because you skipped the change.

The fix? Super simple. Change them! Here’s how:

1. Find the defaults: Check the device sticker, manual, or search “[brand] [model] default password.”
2. Log in: For routers, type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in your browser. Cameras or printers? Use their app or web interface.
3. Change it: Go to settings > admin/account > password. Make it strong (more on that below).
4. For popular ones:
   • Routers (Netgear, TP-Link): Often “admin/password”—log in via browser.
   • Cameras (Ring, Nest): Through the app.
   • Smart hubs (Amazon Echo): Alexa app settings.

Pro tip: Do this BEFORE connecting to the internet if possible.

Now, strong passwords: Aim for 12-16+ characters, mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols. Use passphrases like “BlueCoffee!Rainy2025Day”. Avoid “password123” or pet names. NIST says length over complexity—no more forced changes every 90 days if it’s strong.

Best moves:

• Unique per device/account.
• Password manager (like FastestPass) to generate/store them.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) everywhere.
• Update firmware regularly—many now force changes on setup.

Conclusion

Default passwords are an open door for hackers, but changing them is the easiest way to stay safe. It takes just two minutes, costs nothing, and stops most attacks. Right now, millions of devices around the world still use factory settings like “admin” or “123456”. Don’t be one of them.

Open your router at 192.168.1.1, check your cameras in the app, and set a strong, unique password for every device. Use a password manager, turn on 2FA, and keep everything updated. One small change today protects your photos, bank details, and privacy tomorrow. Start now and tell your family and friends. Stay secure!