A comma in your password does not protect it in a data leak
A comma does not protect your password in a leak. A correctly formatted CSV file can store text that contains commas. An X post suggesting otherwise drew about 5.7 million views, according to figures cited in reports.
The viral claim
Adding a comma to a password will break a leaked CSV file and make the password harder to steal.
How we reached the verdict
A CSV file separates fields with commas. The format allows a field that contains its own comma to be enclosed in quotation marks. A poorly written export might split that field by mistake, but that does not stop anyone from reading leaked data. The reported view count refers to the X post, not to the number of people affected by a breach.
Virality evidence · 63/100
Before age adjustment · 80/100. Activity dated 13 Nov 2026.
Measured reach 60/60 · Platform spread 10/25 · Independent reporting 10/15
57,00,000 reported views · 13 Nov 2026
Documented on X
Latest sourced reporting · 13 Nov 2026
Sources
- Hindustan Times · Reporting
- NDTV Profit · Reporting
- RFC 4180 (CSV format) · Primary evidence