84% of people who responded to a survey from mobile authentication platform provider LaunchKey would like to see passwords completely eliminated in a world where the majority have almost 10+ passwords for admins.
The August 2015 US survey also found that user demands are exacerbated by the fact that these systems require users to change passwords frequently. In addition, the LaunchKey survey highlighted concerns about systems requiring users to create passwords that do not match the model of the one they usually use. Over two-thirds of respondents reuse passwords for multiple accounts, while just over three-quarters said they often forget passwords or write them down. Over a quarter (27%) of respondents admitted to sharing their passwords with someone else.
The demand for alternatives to passwords is high, with three-quarters believing that their data would be more secure with another type of verification. Three-fifths would choose to scan their fingerprints instead of a password. Respondents were asked little about traditional authentication methods, and the characterization of two-factor authentication (2FA) was poor. Almost two-thirds did not even know what 2FA was, while only one-fifth said it was easy to use. There was also a sense that many of the current 2FA solutions on the market represent a significant cost and logistical burden.
Likely due to the high number of recent data breaches at retail stores, 52% of respondents expressed little or no trust in retail stores and their ability to properly secure personal information, and 43% had little or no trust in online retailers. Just under half expressed a great deal of trust in banks and their ability to protect personal information.
“Today, the pace of security breaches directly linked to stolen passwords and authentication bypass is increasing along with the severity of their consequences,” commented LaunchKey CEO Geoff Sanders.
