Internet users worldwide continue to fail to understand how to use passwords effectively to protect themselves when they are online. Research from Kaspersky Lab has shown that people are putting their online security at risk by making poor password decisions and making simple mistakes that can have far-reaching consequences. 
The research revealed three common password mistakes that put a large number of Internet users at risk:
(1) people use the same password for multiple accounts, which means that if one password is leaked, more than one account is easier to hack. (2) people use weak passwords, which are easy for someone to crack, and
(3) people store passwords insecurely, reducing their overall importance.
“Considering the amount of private and sensitive information we store online today, today’s users should take extra care to protect themselves through effective password protection. It may seem obvious, but many may not realize that they fall into the trap of making simple password management mistakes. These mistakes, in turn, are as significant as ‘leaving the door open’ to emails, bank accounts, personal files and more,” commented Andrei Mochola, Head of Consumer Business at Kaspersky Lab.
Research shows that a large number of people (around one in five – 18%) have experienced an attempt to hack their account, yet few use effective and technologically up-to-date passwords. For example, only a third (30%) of internet users create new passwords for different online accounts, and a worrying number – 1 in 10 – use the same password for all their online accounts. So if one of their passwords is leaked, every one of these people’s accounts is at risk of being hacked and exploited.
Users also don’t create passwords that are strong enough to protect them from hacking and extortion. Only half (47%) use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters in their passwords, and two in three (64%) use a combination of letters and numbers. Interestingly, this is despite the fact that users believe that online banking (51%), email (39%) and online shopping accounts (37%) need strong passwords.
The study also shows that people are misusing their passwords – sharing them with others and using insecure methods to remember them. Almost a third (28%) have shared a password with a close family member, and one in ten (11%) have shared a password with friends, making it more likely that passwords will be accidentally leaked. More than one in five (22%) also admitted to writing down their passwords in a notebook to make them easier to remember. This, even if a password is strong, leaves the user vulnerable, as other people can see and use it.
As Mr. Mochola continues, “People still make simple mistakes when it comes to online passwords. The best passwords cannot be found in the dictionary. They are long, with lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers and punctuation marks. However, with people having so many online accounts today, it is not easy to remember one secure password for everything. Using a password management solution can help people remember and create strong passwords in order to minimize the risk of online account breaches.”
Kaspersky Password Manager securely stores all passwords, addresses, and credit card details, and synchronizes them across devices, so users only need to remember one master password.
For more information about Kaspersky Passwords Manager, you can visit the website .
