Weak Passwords Put People at Risk — Study

Weak Passwords Put People at Risk — Study
Posted: 2009-09-07

http://www.theasiamediaforum.org/node/2985

BEIJING — Internet users are leaving themselves open to security risks by adopting weak passwords, reports China's Xinhua News, referring to a recent study.

British insurer CPP said that too many people are using things like memorable dates, names of their children and are even sharing them with friends and colleagues. The survey also found that some 46 percent were even using the same password to login to banking, shopping and social networking sites.

More worrying was that of 1,661 Britons questioned, nearly 40 percent of adults admitted that at least one other person knows their passwords, ranging from children, colleagues and friends. With phishing and smishing attacks, as well as malicious software attacks, on the rise, consumers and Internet users need to be more careful with their personal data.

Phishing is the process whereby criminals attempt to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity, such as a banking website or email.

Smishing is also becoming more common with unsuspecting members of the public tricked into giving up sensitive information. Similar to phishing, smishing uses cell phone text messages or sometimes phone calls to initiate the attack.

An average person may visit up to 23 different sites that require a login, and they are becoming an increasing target for fraudsters.

The survey even found that some 39 percent of its respondent thought that someone else had logged in to a website with their details. The threat is particularly real with around 18 percent saying goods had been bought illegally in their name, and one in eight reported to having had money stolen with the average sum being over 1,600 U.S. dollars). Around 5 percent reported having their identity stolen.