Home › Business › Tech & Science
Most computer users repeat passwords, at their peril
STORY TOOLS
More from Tech & Science
SAN FRANCISCO — Using the same password for multiple Web pages is the Internet-era equivalent of having the same key for your home, car and bank safe-deposit box.
Even though a universal password is like gold for crooks because they can use it to steal all of a person's sensitive data at once, nearly half the Internet users queried in a new survey said they use just one password for all their online accounts.
At the same time, 88 percent of the 800 people interviewed in the U.S. and the U.K. for the survey by the Accenture consultancy said personal irresponsibility is the key cause of identity theft and fraud.
Researchers say the findings suggest that many users underestimate the growing threat from organized cyber criminals who can reap big profits from selling stolen identities.
Many users repeat passwords so they don't forget them, which shows in another finding that 70 percent of survey respondents in the U.K. said they don't write down their passwords, versus 49 percent in the U.S.
Only seven percent of the respondents said they change their passwords often, use password management software or use a fingerprint reader to access their machines and accounts.
(Requires free registration.)
Article discussions on this site are to support community debates of issues related to our stories and editorials.
Discussions should not stray from the subject of the story or editorial.
We do not allow the following:
We reserve the right to delete threads and/or ban users for these or other reasons we deem necessary.
Opinions are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.